Image display system, image registration terminal device and image reading terminal device used in the image display system

ABSTRACT

An image display system which improves the ease of use provided to an operator when an alteration is detected in image data that is to be displayed. An electronic watermark detecting section and forwarding request section are appended to a personal computer connected to a disk cache storing image data. The electronic watermark detecting section has a function of checking for alterations in the image data in the disk cache, and an interface to the forwarding request section is also appended thereto. A transmission section is appended to a personal computer connected to an optical disk device storing original image data. The forwarding request section has the function of sending a request from the electronic watermark detecting section to the transmission section, and the function of transferring the image data transmitted form the transmission section, to the electronic watermark detecting section. The transmission section has the function of obtaining corresponding original image data from the optical disk device, in response to requests from the forwarding request section, and transmitting same to the forwarding request section. This image display system is suitable for use in a document management system comprising an image registration terminal, a reading terminal, and a server.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image display system for displayingimage data, and more particularly, to an image display system whereby,even when image data has been altered, an unaltered image is displayed.

Moreover, the present invention relates to an image display systemsuitable for use in a document management system, and to an imageregistration terminal device and reading terminal device constitutingthis system.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, various types of documents are issued by governmentoffices, banks, insurance companies, private businesses, stores, and thelike. In general, these documents are represented by text (orcharacters), diagrams (or graphic symbols), figures (or numerals),symbols (or Japanese-style stamped mark), and the like. In order toissue or refer to such documents, or to publish same for official use,image data for a document is first stored in a host computer or server,and then the image data is read out to a terminal by operationsperformed at the terminal. Examples of such documents include, forexample, residence cards, seal registration certificates, insurancecertificates, bank books, receipts, and the like. The image data is alsodisplayed when it is registered in the host computer or server.

In conventional image display systems, image data read in by means of animage scanner, or the like, is stored in a storage device capable ofholding a large volume of data, such as an optical disk device, or thelike. The image data can be displayed by a display device connected tothe storage device by means of a LAN (local area network), or the like.Image data stored on paper, or the like, is read in by an image scannerand converted to a digital image. This digital image is then embeddedwith an electronic watermark by a program for inserting electronicwatermarks implemented by a personal computer, thereby yielding anelectronically watermarked digital image. The electronically watermarkeddigital image is stored in the optical disk device. This electronicallywatermarked digital image is also transmitted to a display device and isstored in a disk cache connected to the display device.

When displaying image data, generally, a digital image stored in a diskcache is read in, and it is checked whether or not there are anyalterations in the digital image. If no alteration is detected, then theimage is displayed on the display device, and if an alteration isdetected, then information indicating the location of the alteration isdisplayed on the display device along with the image. By means of thisdisplay method, the operator can recognize if there have been anyalterations to the digital image, and can take measures, such as readingout unaltered image data from the optical disk device.

However, in a conventional image display system as described above, ifan alteration is detected in the image data, then the operator of thedisplay device must separately read out unaltered image data from theoptical disk device, and hence ease of operation is poor.

On the other hand, conventionally, image display systems used indocument management systems for disclosure of documents have beenemployed.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing constituent elements of a documentmanagement system and the connection relations for same, in order todescribe one example of a conventional image display system fordisclosing documents. In this system 100, an image registration terminal(simply called ‘registration terminal’) 102, a document managementserver 104, and a reading terminal device (simply called a ‘readingterminal’) 106 are mutually linked by means of a network 108. Ascommonly known, the registration terminal 102, document managementserver 104 and reading terminal 106 respectively comprise basicconstituent elements, such as a computer processing section, imagedisplay section, memory, input section, output section, drive section,and the like. As the input section for the registration terminal 102, animage scanner 110 is provided for reading in the documents andconverting same to image data. Furthermore, the reading terminal 106comprises a printer 112 which is enabled to read in documents that areto be disclosed.

In order to aid understanding of this invention, firstly, a simpledescription is given of the operation of the image display system fordocument management according to the prior art.

FIG. 25 shows one example of information for disclosure, in other words,a document (also called ‘original’) that is to be disclosed, accordingto the prior art. The paper information shown on the original document120 that is to be disclosed comprises, for example, information such as‘Receipt’ as the title of the original document, ‘Jun. 30, 2000’ as thedate of issue, ‘OX Electric Co.’ as the addressee, ‘Amount: 65000 Yen’as the amount, ‘Note: For food supplies’ as the proviso, ‘Kappou RyoriSATO’ as the name of the issuing party, and so on. Here, an example isdescribed where the amount and the name of the issuing party areinformation contents which are not to be disclosed.

The information in paper form is converted to image data (electronicdata) by means of the image scanner 110 of the registration terminal102. On the other hand, index data is created consisting of an indexingkeywords which are input by means of a keyboard, or the like, of theinput section, and reference attributes (REF attributes) for identifyingthe correlation thereof with the relevant image data. The image data isstored in the memory of the registration terminal 102 along with theindex data.

One example of conventional index data is shown in FIG. 26. The formatused to express this index data 122 is the document description languageXML (extensible Markup Language). In FIG. 26, of the expressions <XX>,<XX□□/“OO”/>, and the like, XX is a ‘tag’ name, the OO after the tag isan ‘attribute’ name, and the OO shown inside “ ” and marked by =following the ‘attribute’ name is the ‘attribute value’ corresponding tothe ‘attribute’ name.

The indexing keywords contain information indicating that disclosure isacceptable and information indicating that disclosure is not acceptable.In the present example, information that can be disclosed is selected bythe indexing keywords, these indexes being ‘Receipt’, ‘20000630’ and‘YAMADA TARO’. The ‘YAMADA TARO’ following the ‘Madeby’ tag is notindicated on the receipt, but it is the name of the party providing thereceipt.

The attribute value of the attribute (ref=) of the ‘Image’ tag is‘#Image/Image.jpg’, and this forms index data which is associated withthe image data.

FIG. 27 shows one example of a file composition for representing indexdata. Here, the lowest levels of the ‘Current directory’ of the file are‘Image directory’ and ‘Index.xml’. Moreover, the lower level of the‘Image directory’ is ‘Image.jpg’.

Image data and index data are stored in the document management server104 by means of the network 108.

On the other hand, a party seeking disclosure of the document makes anapplication for disclosure thereof to the operator of a reading terminaldevice 106. The operator is acknowledged by the party disclosing theinformation that information suitable for disclosure has been selected;this party is also called the information disclosing party. On the basisof the aforementioned application, the operator accesses the server 104by operating the input section of the reading terminal 106, searches forindex data for the original document corresponding to the disclosureapplication, as previously registered in the document management server,reads out the image data associated with this index data, and storesthis image data in the memory of the reading device, whilst alsodisplaying same on the screen display section of the reading device.

Supposing that the original document to be disclosed has the contentsillustrated in FIG. 25, the whole contents of the original document arecontained in the image data displayed on the screen display section ofthe reading terminal 106, as shown in FIG. 28. Here, it is assumed thatof the information in the image data region shown as the image datainformation, the regions of contents ‘OX Electric Co.’ surrounded by thedotted frame 132 and the contents ‘Kappou Ryori SATO’ surrounded by thedotted frame 134 are non-disclosed regions, and the information in theserespective regions is taken as information that is not to be disclosedto the applicant (also called ‘non-disclosed information’).

In this case, the operator controls the input section of the readingterminal 106 whilst observing the displayed image, to perform amendmentof the image data by selecting the non-disclosed regions and processingthe images inside these regions (known as ‘image data processing’). Byperforming this data amendment, these regions are blacked out so thatthey assume a state where they cannot be read on the screen at any time,and index data is created indicating this state, the amended image dataand the index data corresponding to same being stored in a memory. Theimage data after amendment is shown by 140 in FIG. 29. Furthermore, theblacked out section 142 is a region corresponding to the non-disclosedregion 132 in FIG. 28, whilst the blacked out section 144 is a regioncorresponding to the non-disclosed region 134 in FIG. 28.

The image data obtained in this manner is read out from the memory andsupplied to the output section. The output section performs directprocessing of the corresponding image data, thereby creating data of thekind illustrated in FIG. 29, and according to requirements, it is outputto a printer 112 to create a printed document, forming a document whichcan be provided to the applicant.

In a conventional image display system for document management of thiskind, at the image registration terminal device, no decisions are made,and furthermore, no suggestions are provided, with regard to which ofthe contents of a document that is to be disclosed should be designatedas non-disclosed information, apart from those contents which arepreviously designated as being suitable for disclosure. Therefore, theimage data and corresponding index data read out from the documentmanagement server by the reading terminal device contains no data whichdesignates or suggests regions of the image data that are not to bedisclosed. Consequently, unless amendment processing of some kind iscarried out with respect to this image data, the whole of the documentinformation, including information that should be non-disclosedinformation, will be presented to the applicant in a readable state.

Therefore, conventionally, the operator on the reading side (partydisclosing the information) sets the non-disclosed regions of the imagedata regions according to his or her own wishes, and must performamendment processing in such a manner that these regions cannot be read.

Therefore, in a conventional image display system, the operation fromreceiving a request for disclosure of information until creating adocument to be provided to the applicant which includes the contentsthat are to be disclosed, is inefficient.

Furthermore, there is a risk that each time that an application fordisclosure of information is made, the designation of informationcontents that are not to be disclosed will be different, therebyundermining the credibility of the information contents that aredisclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay system whereby unaltered image data can be read out anddisplayed, even if alterations have been made to the image data.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay system having good operability.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay system, whereby the efficiency of the information disclosureoperation is improved, and moreover, the reliability of disclosedinformation content can be improved.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay system, whereby the speed of the information disclosureoperation is increased, and moreover, leaking of information can beavoided.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay system whereby non-disclosed information contents can bespecified in correspondence with respective applicants for disclosure ofinformation.

Furthermore, it is a sixth object of the present invention to provide animage registration terminal device for use in the aforementioned system.

It is a seventh object of the present invention to provide a readingterminal device for use in the aforementioned system.

In order to achieve the first and second objects described above, theimage display system according to the present invention has thefollowing composition. Namely, the present image display systemcomprises original image holding device for holding original image dataand an image display device connected to the original image holdingdevice. This image display device reads out and displays image data fromstoring device storing image data, and comprises the function ofdetecting alterations in the image data when the image data is read out.The image display device comprises a function for requestingtransmission of original image data from the original image holdingdevice, when an alteration is detected in the image data, the originalimage holding device is provided with a function for transferringoriginal image data to the image display device in response to originalimage data transfer requests from the image display device, and theimage display device comprises a function for displaying the originalimage data transferred thereto.

According to the foregoing composition, even if there is an alterationto image data that is to be displayed, it is possible to read out anddisplay unaltered image data automatically, without the operator havingto perform separate read-out operations. Therefore, according to theimage display system according to this invention, it is possible todisplay correct image data whilst providing easy operation.

Moreover, by providing the function of displaying an indication thatoriginal image data has been obtained since there has been an alterationto the image data, along with displaying the original image datatransferred thereto, it is possible for the operator to recognise thatthere is no problem with the image data displayed, despite the fact thatthere has been an alteration to the image data.

As a further method for achieving the objects of the invention, it isalso possible to adopt a composition wherein the image data comprises aplurality of regions; the image display device detects alterations tothe image data for each of the regions, and if an alteration to theimage data is detected, then it sends (or transfers) informationrelating to the region where the alteration was detected to the originalimage storing device, along with the original image data transferrequest; the original image storing device sends original image data forthe corresponding region to the image display device, on the basis ofthe information relating to the region where the alteration wasdetected; and the image display device synthesizes the received originalimage data for the region with the image data for the other regions. Byadopting this composition, it is possible to transfer only the originalimage data for the region where an alteration has been detected from theoriginal image storing device to the image display device, and thereforethe image data transfer time is shortened and ease of operation isimproved.

As a result of repeated research and experimentation, the presentinventors also confirmed that all or a part of the aforementionedobjects can be achieved by adopting an image display system for documentmanagement wherein, on the registration terminal device side,prospective non-disclosed regions are set within the image data regionof the document (original document) that is to be disclosed, and thisimage data and index data specifying the prospective non-disclosedregions is previously registered in a server, whilst on the readingterminal device side, the prospective non-disclosed regions are read outfrom the server and set finally as non-disclosed regions, a document(provision document) being disclosed wherein the contents, such as text,and the like, in the specified non-disclosed regions are processed toassume a non-readable state.

Image Display System for a First Document Management System

According to the first image display system according to the presentinvention, there are provided: a server, a first image reading terminaldevice, and a first reading terminal device having the followingcomposition, mutually linked by a network.

Essentially, the first image registration terminal device comprises: afirst input section for converting original image data for a documentthat is to be disclosed, into image data; and a first screen displaysection capable of displaying the image data, and set regions specifiedas prospective non-disclosure regions within the image data region ofthe image data.

Moreover, according to a specific composition, this first imageregistration terminal device comprises: a first input section forconverting original image data for a document (original document) thatis to be disclosed, into image data; prospective non-disclosure regionsetting device for setting prospective non-disclosed regions within theimage data region of the obtained image data, and creating setting datafor the specified set regions; a first memory for storing the image dataand setting data in a readable fashion; and a first output section forreading out the image data and setting data from the first memory andoutputting same to the server. Moreover, the first output sectioncomprises a first screen display section capable of displaying the readout image data and the set regions.

The server has a composition capable of obtaining and storing image dataand setting data for the set regions from the image data registrationterminal device.

Moreover, essentially, the first reading terminal device comprises: asecond screen display section capable of displaying: image datacorresponding to original image data for a document that is to bedisclosed as previously registered in the server; set regions specifiedas prospective non-disclosure regions in the image data region; andnon-disclosure decided regions within the image data region.

Moreover, desirably, the first reading terminal device also comprises asecond input section for reading out image data and setting data fromthe server; and a region deciding section for deciding disclosed regionsand non-disclosed regions with respect to the set region in the imagedata region.

Moreover, according to a further specific composition, the first readingterminal device comprises: a second input section for reading out, fromthe server, the image data corresponding to the original image data forthe document (original document) that is to be disclosed, and settingdata respectively identifying the image data and set regions specifiedas prospective non-disclosure regions within the image data region, thisdata being respectively registered beforehand in the server; a regiondeciding section for deciding disclosed regions and non-disclosedregions with respect to the set regions in the image data region; adisclosure data creating section for converting image data within thenon-disclosure decided regions to non-readable data, converting imagedata within the disclosed regions to readable data, and creatingdisclosure data consisting of the non-readable and readable data; asecond output section for converting the disclosure data to a disclosuredocument having perceivable contents; and a second memory for storing,in a readable fashion, the image data, the setting data, the readableand non-readable data, and the disclosure data. The second outputsection contains a second screen display section capable of displayingthe image data, set regions, and the non-disclosure decided regionswithin the image data region.

In this way, according to the image display system according to thefirst document management system, on the image registration terminaldevice side (hereinafter, may simply be called registration terminaldevice or registration terminal), it is possible to specify prospectivenon-disclosed regions in the image data region of the original document,with respect to contents of the original document that are not to bedisclosed, and to create specification data for specifying these setregions, this data being registered previously in the server.

On the reading terminal device side (hereinafter, may simply be calledreading terminal device), the image data and specification data are readout from the server on the basis of a reading application, and whenthese data elements are synthesized, a display is achieved on the secondscreen display section comprising a display of the image data and setregions forming prospective non-disclosed regions specified within theimage region (may also be called image data region). After confirmingthat the information contents in the set regions is information that isnot to be disclosed, these set regions are set as non-disclosed regions,and the remaining portions of the image data region are set as disclosedregions. After changing the image data in the non-disclosure decidedregions and the disclosed regions respectively to non-readable data andreadable data, it is possible to provide a disclosure document, in otherwords, a provision document, having perceivable contents, to theapplicant.

In this way, according to the image display system for the firstdocument management system, on the reading terminal device side, it ispossible to avoid setting operations for disclosed regions andnon-disclosed regions within the image data region, and therefore theefficiency of the information disclosure operation can be improvedcompared to the prior art.

Moreover, according to the image display system for the first documentmanagement system, at the reading terminal device, the regions given asprospective non-disclosure regions should simply be confirmed, withouthaving to be set as non-disclosed regions anew, and hence the incorrectsetting of non-disclosed regions in this operation is avoided and it ispossible to provide a disclosure document of higher reliability than inthe prior art.

According to a preferred embodiment of this image display system for afirst document management system, it is possible to adopt a compositionwherein the prospective non-disclosure region setting device comprises aregion analysing section for detecting region information relating tothe position and size of the set regions which are to be specifiedwithin the image data region, and the region information constitutes aportion of the setting data.

According to a further preferred embodiment of this image display systemfor a first document management system, it is possible to adopt acomposition wherein the prospective non-disclosure region setting devicecomprises first region setting device for specifying the set regions inresponse to a setting command from an input section.

According to a further preferred embodiment of this image display systemfor a first document management system, it is possible to adopt acomposition wherein the prospective non-disclosure region setting devicecomprises an index data creating section for creating index datarelating to the image data and to the set regions, as a portion of thesetting data. In this case, desirably, the index data relating to theimage data comprises indexing keywords, and image data tag names andattribute names; and the index data relating to the set regionscomprises a region number, two-dimensional co-ordinate values, regionwidth and region height for the set regions.

According to a further preferred embodiment of this image display systemfor a first document management system, it is possible to adopt acomposition wherein the setting of the prospective non-disclosureregions is performed by specifying the set regions, by means of asetting display consisting of either a frame display surrounding the setregions, a colored display of the set regions, or a background displayrelating to the set regions, within the image data region displayed bythe first screen display section.

According to a further preferred embodiment of this image display systemfor a first document management system, it is possible to adopt acomposition wherein first selection information for instructing displayof the set regions is previously stored, in a readable fashion, in thesecond memory.

Moreover, the region deciding section performs the following processing.Namely, the region deciding section:

a) reads out the first selection information from the second memory inresponse to a confirmation command from the second input section andcauses the information to be displayed on the second screen displaysection, during the setting operation;

b) causes the image data to be displayed on the second screen displaysection by means of selection of the displayed first selectioninformation in response to commands from the second input section;

c) specifies the set regions by means of a setting display consisting ofeither a frame display surrounding the set regions, a colored display ofthe set regions, or a background display relating to the set regions,within the displayed image data region, on the basis of the settingdata; and

d) designates the specified set regions as non-disclosure decidedregions, if there is no error in the specification of the set regions,or alternatively, cancels the specification of the set regions andchanges same to disclosed regions, if there is an error in thespecification of the set regions.

Moreover, according to yet a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for the first document management system, secondselection information for changing the non-disclosure decided regions tonon-readable data is stored in a readable fashion in the second memory.

Furthermore, the disclosure data creating section performs the followingprocessing. Namely, the disclosure data creating section:

a) reads out the second selection information from the second memory anddisplays same on the second screen display section, in response toreadable/non-readable commands from the second input section; and

b) converts the specified non-disclosure decided regions to non-readabledata consisting of either black information, blank information ordeleted information, by selecting the displayed second selectioninformation in response to selection commands from the second inputsection, whilst also performing processing for converting the remainingimage data region to readable data.

Image Display System for a Second Document Management System

According to the second image display system according to the presentinvention, there are provided: a server, a second image reading terminaldevice, and a second reading terminal device having the followingcomposition, mutually linked by a network.

Firstly, the second registration terminal device essentially comprises:a first input section for converting original image data for a documentthat is to be disclosed, into image data; and a first screen displaysection capable of displaying the image data, set regions specified asprospective non-disclosure regions within the image data region of theimage data, and structured image data created from the image data andthe setting data.

According to a specific example, this second image registration terminaldevice comprises: a first input section for converting original imagedata for a document (original document) that is to be disclosed, intoimage data; non-disclosure region setting device for setting prospectivenon-disclosure regions within the image data region of the obtainedimage data and creating setting data for the set regions thus specified;a structured image data creating section for creating structured imagedata from the image data and the setting data; a reference data creatingsection for creating reference data referencing the set regions withinthe structured image data; a first memory for storing the image data,the structured image data, the setting data and the reference data, in areadable fashion; and a first output section for reading out thestructured image data, the setting data and the reference data from thefirst memory and outputting same to the server. Furthermore, the firstoutput section contains a first screen display section capable ofdisplaying the image data, set regions and structured image data.

Moreover, the server is composed in such a fashion that it obtains andstores image data, setting data for set regions, and structured imagedata, from the image data registration terminal device.

On the other hand, the second reading terminal device essentiallycomprises a second screen display section capable of displaying: imagedata corresponding to original image data for a document that is to bedisclosed as previously registered in the server; set regions specifiedas prospective non-disclosure regions in the structured image data ofthe image data; non-disclosure decided regions within the image dataregion; and disclosure data consisting of non-readable data and readabledata created by converting the image data in the disclosed regions toreadable data.

Moreover, desirably, this second reading terminal device also comprisesa second input section for reading out the structured image data and thesetting data from the server.

Moreover, according to a specific composition, the second readingterminal device comprises: a second input section for reading out, fromthe server, the structured image data of the image data corresponding tocorresponding to the original image data for a document (originaldocument) that is to be disclosed, setting data respectively identifyingset regions specified as prospective non-disclosed regions in thestructured image data, and reference data for referencing the image dataportions of these set regions, these data elements being respectivelyregistered beforehand in the server; a region deciding section forcreating the image data on the basis of the structured image data, thesetting data and the reference data, and then setting disclosed regionsand non-disclosed regions with respect to the set regions in the imagedata region of the image data; a disclosure data creating section forconverting image data within the non-disclosure decided regions tonon-readable data, converting image data within the disclosed regions toreadable data, and creating disclosure data consisting of thenon-readable and readable data; a second output section for convertingthe disclosure data to a disclosure document having perceivable contents(provision document); and a second memory for storing, in a readablefashion, the image data, the setting data, the readable and non-readabledata, and the disclosure data. Furthermore, the second output sectioncomprises a second screen display section capable of displaying theimage data, set regions, non-disclosure decided regions in the imagedata regions, and the disclosure data.

According to this image display system for a second document managementsystem, it is possible to achieve similar beneficial effects to those ofthe first document management system.

Moreover, in this image display system for a second document managementsystem, the image data is structured, and this structured image data,setting data identifying set regions within the structured image data,and reference data referencing the image data portions of these setregions, are previously stored in the server.

At the second reading terminal device, when the structured image data,setting data and reference data are read out from the server andsynthesized, image data wherein the non-disclosed regions are identifiedcan be displayed, and hence the process of setting (or deciding)non-disclosed regions is simple and quick to perform. Consequently, theprocessing time taken from application until provision of the finaldisclosure document is shortened (in other words, the process is speededup).

Moreover, since structuring of image data is achieved, the non-disclosedinformation is stored separately in the server, and therefore even ifillegal external access is made, it is possible to avoid leaking ofinformation, as far as possible.

According to a preferred embodiment of the image display system for thesecond document management system relating to the present invention, itis possible to adopt a composition, wherein the prospectivenon-disclosure region setting device comprises a region analysingsection for detecting region information relating to the position andsize of the set regions which are to be specified within the image dataregion, and the region information constitutes a portion of the settingdata.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the image display systemfor the second document management system relating to the presentinvention, it is possible to adopt a composition, wherein theprospective non-disclosure region setting device comprises a firstregion deciding (or setting) section for specifying set regions inresponse to a setting command from the first input section.

Moreover, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for the second document management system relating to thepresent invention, it is possible to adopt a composition, wherein theprospective non-disclosure region setting device comprises an index datacreating section for creating index data relating to the image data andto the set regions, as a portion of the setting data.

Furthermore, this index data creating section may incorporate thereference data creating section as a portion thereof. In this case,desirably, the index data relating to the image data comprises indexingkeywords, and image data tag names and attribute names; and the indexdata relating to the set regions comprises a region number,two-dimensional co-ordinate values, region width and region height forthe set regions, and reference data.

Moreover, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for the second document management system relating to thepresent invention, it is possible to adopt a composition, wherein thesetting of the prospective non-disclosure regions is performed byspecifying the set regions, by means of a setting display consisting ofeither a frame display surrounding the set regions, a colored display ofthe set regions, or a background display relating to the set regions,within the image data region displayed by the first screen displaysection.

Moreover, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for the second document management system relating to thepresent invention, it is possible to adopt a composition, wherein thestructured image data is divided into a first layer wherein the setregions within the image data region are set to a non-readable state,and a second layer consisting of the image data portions for the setregions.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the image display systemfor the second document management system relating to the presentinvention, it is possible to adopt a composition, wherein firstselection information instructing display of the set regions is storedin a readable fashion in the second memory; and the region decidingsection performs the following processing.

Namely, the region deciding section:

a) reads out the first selection information from the second memory inresponse to a confirmation command from the second input section andcauses the information to be displayed on the second screen displaysection, during the setting operation;

b) causes the image data to be displayed on the second screen displaysection by means of selection of the displayed first selectioninformation in response to commands from the second input section;

c) specifies the set regions by means of a setting display consisting ofeither a frame display surrounding the set regions, a colored display ofthe set regions, or a background display relating to the set regions,within the displayed image data region, on the basis of the settingdata; and

d) designates the specified set regions as non-disclosure decidedregions, if there is no error in the specification of the set regions,or alternatively, cancels the specification of the set regions andchanges same to disclosed region, if there is an error in thespecification of the set regions.

Furthermore, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for the second document management system relating to thepresent invention, second selection information for converting thenon-disclosure decided region into non-readable data is stored in thesecond memory in a readable fashion, and the disclosure data creatingsection performs the following processes. Namely,

a) processing for converting the specified non-disclosure decidedregions to non-readable data consisting of either black information,blank information or deleted information, in response toreadable/non-readable commands from the second input section; and

b) processing for converting the remaining image data region to readabledata.

Image Display System for a Third Document Management System

According to the third image display system for a document managementsystem according to the present invention, there are provided: a server,a third image reading terminal device, and a third reading terminaldevice having the following composition, mutually linked by a network.

Essentially, the third image registration terminal device comprises:

a first input section for converting original image data for a documentthat is to be disclosed, into image data; and a first screen displaysection capable of displaying the image data, and set regions specifiedas prospective non-disclosure regions within the image data region ofthe image data.

According to a specific composition, this third image registrationterminal device comprises: a first input section for converting originalimage data for a document (original document) that is to be disclosed,into image data; prospective non-disclosed region setting device forspecifying prospective non-disclosure regions within the image dataregion of the obtained image data and creating setting data for thesespecified set regions; a first memory for storing the image data andsetting data, in a readable fashion; and a first output section forreading out the image data and setting data from the first memory, inorder to store same in the server.

Moreover, the first output section contains a first screen displaysection capable of displaying the image data and set regions.

Moreover, the prospective non-disclosure region setting device comprisesan index data creating section for creating index data relating to theimage data and to the set regions, as a portion of the setting data.

The index data relating to the image data comprises indexing keywords,and image data tag names and attribute names.

Furthermore, the index data relating to the set regions comprising aregion number, two-dimensional co-ordinate values, region width andregion height for the set regions, and name attributes indicating theitem names relating to the set regions.

Moreover, the server previously registers reading authorization levelcorrespondence data and item name correspondence data relating to thereading authorization levels, and it also obtains and stores the imagedata and setting data from the image registration terminal device.

On the other hand, essentially, third reading terminal device comprisesa second screen display section capable of displaying the image datacorresponding to the original image data for the document that is to bedisclosed, as previously registered in the server, the set regionsspecified as prospective non-disclosed regions in the image data region,readable item names and non-disclosure decided regions within the imagedata region.

Moreover, desirably, the third reading terminal device comprises asecond input section for reading out, from the server, the image data,setting data, reading authorization level correspondence data, and itemname correspondence data relating to the reading authorization levels.

Moreover, according to a specific composition, the third readingterminal device comprises: a second input section for reading out, fromthe server, the image data, setting data, reading authorization levelcorrespondence data, and item name correspondence data relating to thereading authorization levels stored in the server; a region decidingsection for specifying disclosed regions and non-disclosed regions byselecting item names by specifying a read out reading authorizationlevel, and specifying set regions corresponding to the selected itemnames in the image data region, on the basis of item name correspondencedata corresponding to the selected item names; a disclosure datacreating section for converting image data within the non-disclosuredecided regions to non-readable data, converting image data within thedisclosed regions to readable data, and creating disclosure dataconsisting of the non-readable and readable data; a second outputsection for converting the disclosure data to a disclosure documenthaving perceivable contents (provision document); and a second memoryfor storing, in a readable fashion, the image data, the setting data,the readable and non-readable data, the disclosure data, the readingauthorization level correspondence data and item name correspondencedata.

The second output section comprises a second screen display sectioncapable of displaying the image data, readable item names, set regions,and the non-disclosure decided regions within the image data region.

According to the image display system for this third document managementsystem, it is possible to achieve similar beneficial effects to those ofthe first and second document management system.

Moreover, according to the image display system for this third documentmanagement system, reading authorization level correspondence datadetermining the range of information to be disclosed and item namecorrespondence data relating to same are specified, and storedpreviously in a server. At the reading terminal device side, byselectively synthesizing the reading authorization level correspondencedata and item name correspondence data read out from the server, inaccordance with each person applying for disclosure of information, itis possible to specify information contents that are not to bedisclosed, in a more accurate manner. Therefore, it is possible toprovide a disclosure document containing an amount of information whichcorresponds to the applicant.

Moreover, according to a preferred embodiment of the image displaysystem for this third document management system, a composition can beadopted wherein the prospective non-disclosure region setting devicecomprises a region analysing section for detecting region informationrelating to the position and size of the set regions within the imagedata region, and this region information constitutes a portion of thesetting data.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the image displaysystem for this third document management system relating to the presentinvention, a composition can be adopted wherein the prospectivenon-disclosure region setting device comprises a first region decidingsection for specifying set regions in response to a setting command fromthe first input section.

Furthermore, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for this third document management system relating to thepresent invention, a composition can be adopted wherein the secondmemory stores reading authorization level setting data for setting thereading authorization levels, and the selection of the readingauthorization level is carried out on a displayed screen of the readingauthorization setting data, which is displayed on the second screendisplay section.

Moreover, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for this third document management system relating to thepresent invention, a composition can be adopted wherein the set regionsdesignated as non-disclosed regions are displayed on the second screendisplay section together with a setting display consisting of either aframe display surrounding the set regions, a colored display of the setregions, or a background display relating to the set regions.

Furthermore, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for this third document management system relating to thepresent invention, second selection information for changing thenon-disclosure decided regions to non-readable data is stored in areadable fashion in the second memory.

Moreover, the disclosure data creating section is capable of performingthe following processing.

Namely, the disclosure data creating section:

a) reads out the second selection information from the second memory anddisplays same on the second screen display section, in response toreadable/non-readable commands from the second input section; and

b) converts the specified non-disclosure decided regions to non-readabledata consisting of either black information, blank information ordeleted information, by selecting the displayed second selectioninformation in response to selection commands from the second inputsection, whilst also performing processing for converting the remainingimage data region to readable data.

Image Display System for a Fourth Document Management System

According to the image display system for a fourth document managementsystem according to the present invention, there are provided: a server,a fourth image reading terminal device, and a fourth reading terminaldevice having the following composition, mutually linked by a network.

Essentially, the fourth image registration terminal device comprises: afirst input section for converting original image data for a documentthat is to be disclosed, into image data; and a first screen displaysection capable of displaying the image data, set regions specified asprospective non-disclosure regions within the region of the image data,and structured image data created from the image data and the settingdata.

According to a more specific composition, the fourth registrationterminal device comprises: a first input section for converting originalimage data for a document (original document) that is to be disclosed,into image data; a prospective non-disclosure region setting device forsetting prospective non-disclosure regions within the image data regionof the obtained image data and creating setting data for the set regionsthus specified; a structured image data creating section for creatingstructured image data from the image data and the setting data; areference data creating section for creating reference data referencingthe set regions within the structured image data; a first memory forstoring the image data, the structured image data, the setting data andthe reference data, in a readable fashion; and a first output sectionfor reading out the structured image data, the setting data and thereference data from the first memory and outputting same to the server.

Furthermore, the first output section contains a first screen displaysection capable of displaying the image data, set regions and structuredimage data.

Moreover, the prospective non-disclosure region setting device comprisesan index data creating section for creating index data relating to theimage data and to the set regions, as a portion of the setting data.

Furthermore, this index data creating section may incorporate thereference data creating section as a portion thereof.

The index data relating to the image data comprises indexing keywords,and image data tag names and attribute names.

Furthermore, the index data relating to the set regions comprising aregion number, two-dimensional co-ordinate values, region width andregion height for the set regions, reference data, and name attributesindicating the item names relating to the set regions.

Moreover, the server previously registers reading authorization levelcorrespondence data and item name correspondence data relating to thereading authorization levels, and it also stores the structured imagedata, the setting data and the reference data, from the imageregistration terminal device.

Essentially, the fourth reading terminal device comprises: a secondscreen display section capable of displaying: image data correspondingto original image data for a document that is to be disclosed aspreviously registered in the server; set regions specified asprospective non-disclosure regions in the structured image data of theimage data; readable reading authorization levels; readable item names;non-disclosure decided regions within the image data region; anddisclosure data consisting of non-readable data and readable datacreated by converting the image data in the disclosed regions toreadable data.

Moreover, desirably, this fourth reading terminal device also comprisesa second input section for reading out the structured image data, thesetting data, the reading authorization level correspondence data andthe item name correspondence data, from the server.

According to a specific composition, the fourth reading terminal devicecomprises: a second input section for reading out the structured imagedata, setting data and reference data stored in the server,respectively; a non-dislosure deciding section for specifying disclosedregions and non-disclosed regions by selecting item names by specifyinga read out reading authorization level, and specifying set regionscorresponding to the selected item names in the image data region of theimage data, from the structured image data, the setting data and thereference data, on the basis of item name correspondence datacorresponding to the selected item names; a disclosure data creatingsection for creating the disclosure data by converting image data withinthe non-disclosure decided regions to the non-readable data, inaddition, and converting image data in the disclosed regions to thereadable data conversion; a second output section for converting thedisclosure data to a disclosure document having perceivable contents;and a second memory for storing, in a readable fashion, the image data,the setting data, the readable and non-readable data, the disclosuredata, the reading authorization level correspondence data and the itemname correspondence data.

Moreover, the second output section comprises a second screen displaysection capable of displaying the image data, the readable item names,the set regions, the non-disclosure decided regions within said imagedata region, and the disclosure data.

In this case also, similarly to the case of the image display system forthe third document management system described above, the beneficialeffects of the first and second document management systems areachieved. Moreover, in addition to this, reading authorization levelcorrespondence data determining the range of information to be disclosedand item name correspondence data relating to same are specified, andstored previously in a server. At the reading terminal device side, byselectively synthesizing the reading authorization level correspondencedata and item name correspondence data read out from the server, inaccordance with each person applying for disclosure of information, itis possible to specify information contents that are not to bedisclosed, in a more accurate manner. Therefore, it is possible toprovide a disclosure document containing an amount of information whichcorresponds to the applicant.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the image displaysystem for the fourth document management system relating to the presentinvention, a composition can be adopted wherein the prospectivenon-disclosure region setting device comprises a region analysingsection for detecting region information relating to the position andsize of the set regions within the image data region, and this regioninformation constitutes a portion of the setting data.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the image display systemfor the fourth document management system relating to the presentinvention, a composition can be adopted wherein the prospectivenon-disclosure region setting device comprises a first region deciding(or setting) section for specifying set regions in response to a settingcommand from the first input section.

Furthermore, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for the fourth document management system relating to thepresent invention, a composition can be adopted wherein the setting ofthe prospective non-disclosure regions is performed by specifying theset regions, by means of a setting display consisting of either a framedisplay surrounding the set regions, a colored display of the setregions, or a background display relating to the set regions, within theimage data region displayed by the first screen display section.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the image display systemfor the fourth document management system relating to the presentinvention, a composition can be adopted wherein the second memory storesreading authorization level setting data for setting the readingauthorization levels, and the selection of the reading authorizationlevel is carried out on a display screen of the reading authorizationsetting data, which is displayed on the second screen display section.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the image display systemfor the fourth document management system relating to the presentinvention, a composition can be adopted wherein the set regionsdesignated as non-disclosed regions are displayed on the second screendisplay section together with a setting display consisting of either aframe display surrounding the set regions, a colored display of the setregions, or a background display relating to the set regions.

Moreover, according to a further preferred embodiment of the imagedisplay system for the fourth document management system relating to thepresent invention, a composition can be adopted wherein second selectioninformation for changing the non-disclosure decided regions tonon-readable data is stored in a readable fashion in the second memory.

The disclosure data creating section is capable of performing thefollowing processing.

Namely, the disclosure data creating section performs:

a) processing for reading out second selection information from thesecond memory and displaying same on the second screen display section,in response to readable/non-readable commands from the second inputsection; and

b) processing for converting the specified non-disclosure decidedregions to non-readable data consisting of either black information,blank information or deleted information, by selecting the displayedsecond selection information in response to selection commands from thesecond input section; and processing for converting the remaining imagedata region to readable data.

Image Display System for a Fifth Document Management System

Moreover, according to the image display system for a fifth documentmanagement system relating to the present invention, in addition to thefirst to fourth document management systems described above, thefollowing compositional elements are provided. Namely, in cases wherereader level data, for specifying reader levels in relation toparticular setting data elements of the setting data, is previouslyregistered in the server, the region deciding section comprises a directsetting (or deciding) section which decides disclosed regions andnon-disclosed regions within the image data region, directly, byspecifying a reader level in the reader level data read out from theserver by the second input section.

In this case, desirably, the reader level data is data which isstructured with respect to the reader level, reader name and thedepartment title of the respective reader.

According to this image display system for a fifth document managementsystem, since it is additionally possible to set non-disclosed regionsin accordance with a reader level, directly and swiftly, operationalefficiency is improved, and the reliability of the disclosed informationcan also be enhanced.

Image Display System for a Sixth Document Management System

Moreover, according to the image display system for a sixth documentmanagement system relating to the present invention, in cases where auser name for the reader and a password for the reader are previouslystored in the reader level data, as a registered user name and aregistered password, the region deciding section comprises a comparingsection for comparing the registered user name and the registeredpassword read out from the server by the second input section with auser name and password input by the reader by means of the second inputsection; and if the comparison performed by the comparing sectionproduces a match, then the direct setting section specifies the readerlevel for the matching reader name.

According to this image display system for a sixth document managementsystem, in addition to achieving the same beneficial effects as thoseassociated with the first to fifth document management systems, it isalso possible to achieve a composition where reading is only possiblewhen a match is made with a previously registered user name andpassword, and therefore it is not necessary to employ a party fordisclosing the information, but rather the applicant becomes able tooperate and use the system him or herself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system composition diagram showing an image display systemaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a system composition diagram showing the whole of an imagedisplay system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a system composition diagram showing the image display systemaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating image data according to the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating alteration detection informationaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating retrieval information according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating image data according to the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating synthesis of image data according tothe second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a system composition diagram showing an image display systemaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating image data according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the contents of a document formatdatabase according to this invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating showing alteration detectioninformation according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating retrieval information according to athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating image data according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a system composition diagram showing an image display systemaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating retrieval information according to afourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a system composition diagram showing an image display systemaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating image data according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating structured information according to afifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating alteration detection informationaccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating retrieval information according to afifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating the constituent elements andconnection relationships of a system for explaining one example of animage display system for a document management system for disclosingdocuments according to the prior art;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing one example of disclosure information, inother words, a document (original document) that is to be disclosed, forexplaining an image display system for a document management systemaccording to the present invention and to the prior art;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating one example of conventional indexdata;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating one example of a file compositionrepresenting the index data shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a state where image data is displayed onthe screen display section of a reading terminal, non-disclosed regionsbeing set within the image data region, with respect to the originaldocument shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing one example of a disclosure document(provision document) wherein non-disclosed regions have been blankedout, for explaining an image display system for a document managementsystem according to the present invention and to the prior art;

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a compositional example of an imagedisplay system for a first and second document management systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a functional block diagram for explaining a first and thirdimage registration terminal device according to the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating region analysed image data, forexplaining an image registration terminal device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating amended image data for explaining animage registration terminal device according to the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a compositional example of index data,for explaining an image registration terminal device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 35 is a functional block diagram for explaining the first to fourthreading terminal devices according to the present invention;

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating one example of a reading authorizationsetting screen for explaining a reading terminal device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 37 is a functional block diagram for explaining a second and fourthimage registration terminal device according to the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a composition example of structuringindex data, for explaining an image registration terminal deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating a display example of structured imagedata, for explaining an image registration terminal device according tothe present invention;

FIG. 40 shows diagrams respectively illustrating a directory structureand file structure corresponding to structured image data, forexplaining an image registration terminal device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating a composition example of an imagedisplay system for a third and fourth document management systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a pair comprising reading authorizationlevel correspondence data and item name correspondence data, forexplaining the present invention;

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating a state where the contents of thereading authorization setting data are displayed on a screen, forexplaining the present invention;

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen ofamended index data, for explaining an image registration terminal deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating a composition example of index datacomprising name attributes, for explaining an image registrationterminal device according to the present invention;

FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating an image data display screen (exampleof reading side prospective non-disclosed region screen), for explaininga reading terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating a partially limited reading sideprospective non-disclosed region screen, for explaining a readingterminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating non-disclosed regions changed to anon-readable state (example of final display screen), for explaining areading terminal device according to the present invention;

FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating a compositional example of structuringindex data comprising name attributes, for explaining an image readingterminal device according to the present invention;

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating a display example of structured imagedata, for explaining an image reading terminal device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating a composition example of image displaysystem for a fifth and sixth document management system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 52 is a functional block diagram showing a fifth reading terminaldevice of an image display system for a fifth document management systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 53(A), FIG. 53(B) and FIG. 53(C) are diagrams illustrating examplesof reading authorization setting screens, for explaining readingauthorization level setting in the image display system for the fifthdocument management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 54 is a diagram illustrating reader level data for explaining thefifth reading terminal device according to the present invention;

FIG. 55 is a functional block diagram showing a sixth reading terminaldevice of an image display system for a sixth document management systemaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 56 shows reader level data used in a sixth reading terminal deviceaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 57 is a diagram illustrating a login setting data display screen,for explaining a sixth reading terminal device according to the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

Below, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system composition diagramshowing an image display system according to a first embodiment, andFIG. 2 is a system composition diagram showing the whole of an imagedisplay system according to the first embodiment. Firstly, the overallsystem will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, the image scanner (IS) 1102 is connected to a personalcomputer (PC) 1101 and reads in an image printed on paper, or the like,as electronic data (image data). The personal computer 1101 is connectedvia a LAN 1107 to a personal computer (PC) 1103. An optical disk device(ODD) 1104 is connected to the personal computer 1103. The optical diskdevice 1104 is an image data server for storing image data and it iscapable of saving a large volume of data.

The personal computers 1101 and 1103 are connected via the LAN 1107,wide area network (WAN) 1109, and LAN 1108, to a personal computer (PC)1105. The personal computer 1105 is provided with a display 1105 a, onwhich it displays image data read in from the image scanner 1102, and itis further connected to a disk cache (DC) 1106. The disk cache 1106provides local storage of image data read in by the personal computer1101.

In FIG. 1, an electronic watermark detecting section (EWDS) 1503 drivenby an electronic watermark detecting program and a forwarding requestsection (FRS) 1504 driven by a forwarding request program are appendedto the personal computer 1105. The electronic watermark detectingsection 1503 is driven by the electronic watermark program, and inaddition to providing a function of checking whether or not there hasbeen any alteration to the image data inside the disk cache 1106, bydetermining the presence or absence or an electronic watermark, aninterface to the forwarding request section 1504 is also appended tosame. If there has been an alteration in the image data, the interfaceconveys this information to the forwarding request section 1504.

The forwarding request section (FRS) 1504 has the function of sendingrequests from the electronic watermark detecting section (EWDS) 1503 toa transmission section 1505 (described hereinafter), and the function oftransferring image data transmitted from the transmission section (TS)1505, to the electronic watermark detecting section 1503. Thetransmission section 1505 is driven by a transmission program.

Furthermore, the transmission section (TS) 1505 is appended to personalcomputer (PC) 1103. The transmission section 1505 has the function ofobtaining corresponding original image data from the optical disk device(ODD) 1104 in accordance with requests from the forwarding requestsection (FRS) 1504, and transferring this image data to the forwardingrequest section 1504.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the invention will bedescribed. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are explanatory diagrams showing theoperation of the first embodiment. Firstly, the process of obtainingimage data is described with reference to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, paper 1201is an original document on which image data is printed, and from whichimage data is read in. The paper 1201 is read in by the image scanner1102 to form a digital image (DI) 1202. This digital image 1202 then hasan electronic watermark embedded therein by an electronic watermarkembedding section 1203, in accordance with an electronic watermarkembedding program operated by the personal computer 1101 illustrated inFIG. 2, thereby forming an electronically watermarked digital image(EWDI) 1204 (see FIG. 3).

Thereafter, the electronically watermarked digital image 1204 istransferred to the personal computer 1103, and stored in the opticaldisk device 1104. At the same time, this image is transmitted via LAN1107, WAN 1109 and LAN 1108 to the personal computer 1105, where it isstored in the disk cache 1106. By storing the electronically watermarkeddigital image 1204 in the disk cache 1106, when a digital image 1204 isdisplayed by the display 1105 a of the personal computer 1105, the imageis displayed instantly (see FIG. 4).

Next, the operation of displaying image data on the display 1105 a ofthe personal computer 1105 will be described. The personal computer 1105reads in the digital image 1204 stored in the disk cache 1106 and checkswhether or not there has been an alteration to the digital image data1204 by means of the electronic watermark detecting section 1503.

If no alteration is detected at this stage, then as illustrated in FIG.4, the digital image data 1204 is displayed on the display 1105 a on thepersonal computer 1105, and information 1303 indicating that noalteration was detected is also displayed.

If an alteration is detected, then information indicating detection ofan alteration is conveyed to the forwarding request section (FRS) 1504.At the same time, display of image data on the display 1105 a is halted.Upon receiving a notification from the electronic watermark detectingsection 1503, the forwarding request section 1504 requests transmissionof image data from the transmission section (TS) 1505 of the personalcomputer 1103, by means of the LAN 1108, WAN 1109 and LAN 1107.

The transmission section 1505 reads out corresponding image data inaccordance with the request, from the optical disk device 1104, andtransmits this data, via the LAN 1107, WAN 1109 and LAN 1108, to theforwarding request section 1504. The forwarding request section 1504transfers the received image data to the electronic watermark detectingsection 1503.

The electronic watermark detecting section (EWDS) 1503 checks for thepresence of alterations in the received image data, and if an alterationis not detected, then the received image data 1501 is displayed on thedisplay 1105 a along with information 1502 indicating that an alterationwas detected but the original image data has been obtained. If analteration is detected at this stage, then a further request fortransmission of the original image data is made to the transmissionsection 1505. On the display 1105 a, instead of the information 1502, itis possible to display information indicating that unaltered originalimage data is being displayed on the screen.

According to the first embodiment as described above, supposing that theimage data stored in the disk cache 1106 has been altered, then when itis displayed, rather than the altered image data being displayed, theunaltered original image data is displayed automatically, therebyproviding improved ease of operation to the user.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment of the invention is described. FIG. 5 is asystem composition diagram showing an image display system according toa second embodiment. In FIG. 5, an electronic watermark extractingdevice (EWED) 1601 is constituted by a personal computer, and comprisesan electronic watermark detecting section (EWDS) 1602 driven by anelectronic watermark detection program, a forwarding request section(FRS) 1603 driven by a forwarding request program, an image synthesizingsection (ISS) 1604 and a display 1605. The electronic watermarkextracting device 1601 is connected to a disk cache 1106 where imagedata is stored.

The electronic watermark detecting section 1602 has the function ofchecking whether or not there has been an alteration to the image datain the disk cache 1106, by determining whether or not an electronicwatermark is present, in addition to which an interface for theforwarding request section 1603 is appended thereto. If there has beenan alteration in the image data, then the interface conveys thisinformation to the forwarding request section 1603. The imagesynthesizing section 1604 performs synthesis of the image data.

The image server 1607 is constituted by a personal computer, to which atransmission section (TS) 1608 driven by a transmission program isappended. The transmission section 1608 has the function of obtainingappropriate original image data from the optical disk device 1104, inaccordance with a request from the forwarding request section 1603, andtransmitting this image data to the forwarding request section 1603.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, similarly to thefirst embodiment, an electronic watermark is embedded in the image dataread in by the scanner, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, the electronicwatermark is embedded into respective blocks 1610 obtained by dividingthe image data 1609 into predetermined sizes. Therefore, the electronicwatermark extracting device 1601 is capable of detecting alterations inrespective block 1610 units. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showingimage data according to the second embodiment.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described, but itis supposed that image data embedded with an electronic watermark hasalready been stored in the disk cache 1106 connected to the optical diskdevice 1104 and electronic watermark extracting device 1601, and here,the operation of displaying this data on the display 1605 is described.

Firstly, the electronic watermark extracting device 1601 reads in thedigital image 1609 stored in the disk cache 1106, and performs a checkfor alterations in the digital image data 1609 by means of theelectronic watermark detecting section 1602. Here, if no alteration isdetected, then the digital image data 1609 is displayed on the display1605, along with information indicating that no alteration was detected.

If an alteration is detected, then alteration detection information isconveyed to the forwarding request section 1603. As illustrated in FIG.7, the alteration detection information 1611 consists of information(file name) 1612 identifying the image where the alteration wasdetected, and a block number 1613 where the alteration was detected. Atthe same time, display of the image data on the display 1605 is halted.

Upon receiving notification from the electronic watermark detectingsection (EWDS) 1602, the forwarding request section (FRS) 1603 makes arequest for forwarding of the corresponding image data, to thetransmission section (TS) 1608 in the image server 1607, by means of theLAN 1108, WAN 1109 and LAN 1107, in addition to which it transmitsretrieval information. As shown in FIG. 8, the retrieval information1614 consists of information (file name) 1615 identifying the imagewhere an alteration was detected, and the requesting block number 1616,and hence it has the same content as the alteration detectioninformation 1611.

Upon receiving the retrieval information 1614, the transmission section(TS) 1608 of the image server 1607 searches the optical disk device 1104for image data having a file name corresponding to the request.Thereupon, the image in the block specified by the requesting blocknumber 1616 in the retrieval information 1614 is obtained from thecorresponding image data, and it is transmitted via the LAN 1107, WAN1109 and LAN 1108, to the forwarding request section 1603, in the formof a partial image 1618.

The alteration detection information 1611 and retrieval information 1614shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate a case where, for example, theportion 1617 of the image data 1609 shown in FIG. 9 has been altered.The image data transmitted from the image server 1607 to the forwardingrequest section 1603 is the image for this portion 1617.

The forwarding request section 1603 transfers the received image data1618 for the portion 1617 to the image synthesizing section 1604. Theimage synthesizing section 1604, as illustrated in FIG. 10, synthesizesthe received partial image data 1618 with the previously read out imagedata 1619 for the other portions, and displays same as image data 1620on the display 1605, along with information indicating that analteration has been detected but original image data has been obtained,in a similar manner to the first embodiment.

In this way, according to the second embodiment, similarly to the firstembodiment, if the image data stored in the disk cache 1106 has beenaltered, then rather than displaying the altered image data, theunaltered original image data is displayed automatically, therebyproviding improved ease of operation to the user. Moreover, whenunaltered original image data is forwarded from the image server 1607,only image data for the block where an alteration was detected istransmitted, and hence transmission time is shortened, and ease ofoperation is further enhanced.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention is described. FIG. 11is a system composition diagram showing an image display systemaccording to this third embodiment. In FIG. 11, the electronic watermarkextracting device (EWED) 1701 is constituted by a personal computer, andcomprises: an electronic watermark detecting section (EWDS) 1702 drivenby an electronic watermark detecting program, a forwarding requestsection (FRS) 1703 driven by a forwarding request program, an imagesynthesizing section (ISS) 1704, display 1705, document recognitionsection (DRS) 1706, and document format database memory (DFDM) 1707. Theelectronic watermark extracting device 1701 is connected to a disk cache(DC) 1106 for storing image data.

The electronic watermark detecting section 1702, forwarding requestsection 1703, image synthesizing section 1704 and display 1705 aresimilar to those described in the second embodiment above. The documentrecognition section 1706 identifies the type of document. The documentformat database memory 1707 stores document format data for image data.

An image server 1708 is constituted by a personal computer, to which atransmission section (TS) 1709 driven by a transmission program and adocument format database memory (DFDM) 1710 are appended. Thetransmission section 1709 has the function of obtaining correspondingoriginal image data from the optical disk device 1104, in response torequests from the forwarding request section 1703, and transferring saiddata to the forwarding request section 1703. The document formatdatabase memory 1710 is similar to that in the electronic watermarkextracting device 1701.

In the third embodiment, similarly to the previous embodiment, anelectronic watermark is embedded in image data read in from a scanner,but as illustrated in FIG. 12, this electronic watermark in embedded foreach respective text region 1712 in the image data 1711, on the basis ofthe document format database. Therefore, the electronic watermarkextracting device 1701 is able to detect alterations in text region 1712units. As shown in FIG. 13, for each text region 1712 in FIG. 12,co-ordinates for the document format database and image data 1711 areattached and stored. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing thecontents of the document format database and image data.

Next, the operation of a third embodiment is described, but in thiscase, it is assumed that image data embedded with a watermark hasalready been stored in the disk cache 1106 connected to the optical diskdevice 1104 and the electronic watermark extracting device 1701. Here,the operation for showing images on the display 1705 is described.

Firstly, the electronic watermark extracting device 1701 reads in adigital image 1711 stored in the disk cache 1106, and the document typeis identified by the document recognition section 1706, documentinformation 1720 is sent to the document format database memory 1707,and document format information 1721 is appended by the document formatdatabase memory 1707. The electronic watermark detecting section 1702checks each text region 1712 on the basis of the document formatinformation 1721, for the presence of an alteration to the digital imagedata 1711.

If no alteration is detected, then the digital image data 1711 isdisplayed on the display 1705, along with information indicating that noalteration was detected.

If an alteration is detected, then alteration detection information 1713is conveyed to the forwarding section request 1703. As shown in FIG. 14,this alteration detection information 1713 consists of information (filename) 1714 identifying the image where an alteration has been detected,and alteration detection text region information 1715 indicating wherethe alteration was detected. In this case, at the same time, the displayof image data on the display 1705 is halted.

When the forwarding request section 1703 receives notification from theelectronic watermark detecting section 1702, it requests transfer of thecorresponding image data from the transmission section (TS) 1709 in theimage server 1708, via the LAN 1108, WAN 1109 and LAN 1107, and it alsotransmits the alteration detection information as retrieval information1716. As shown in FIG. 15, the retrieval information 1716 consists ofinformation (file name) 1717 and a request text region number 1718identifying the image where an alteration has been detected, and it hasthe same contents as the alteration detection information 1713. Forexample, if an alteration is detected in the text region 1712 a shown inFIG. 16, then the content of the alteration detection text regioninformation 1715 and the request text region number 1718 will be region2.

In response to the request made, the transmission section 1709 of theimage server 1708 receiving the aforementioned retrieval information1716 firstly obtains the co-ordinates of the region corresponding to thetext region number 1718 in the retrieval information 1716, from thedocument format database memory 1710. For example, if informationrelating to text region 1712 a shown in FIG. 12 is received, then itobtains the co-ordinates of region 2. Next, it searches the optical diskdevice 1104 for image data having the file name 1717 contained in theretrieval information 1716.

Next, an image having the co-ordinates of the text region number 1718(for example, image data for the text region 1712 a) is obtained fromthe image data corresponding to the file name 1717, and the obtainedimage is transmitted, as a partial image 1722, to the forwarding requestsection 1703, via the LAN 1107, WAN 1109 and LAN 1108.

The forwarding request section 1703 transfers the received partial imagedata 1722 (for example, image data for the text region 1712 a) to theimage synthesizing section 1704. Similarly to the second embodiment, theimage synthesizing section 1704 synthesizes the received partial imagedata 1722 with the previously read out image data for the otherportions, and displays this image data on the display screen 1705, alongwith information indicating that an alteration has been detected butthat original image data has been obtained.

According to the third embodiment described above, similarly to thefirst embodiment, if the image data stored in the disk cache 1106 hasbeen altered, then the unaltered original image data is displayedautomatically, rather than displaying the altered image data, therebyproviding improved ease of operation to the user. Moreover, in caseswhere unaltered original image data is forwarded from the image server1708, only the image data for text regions where an alteration has beendetected will be transmitted, thereby shortening transmission time andfurther improving operational characteristics.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 17 isa system composition diagram showing an image display system accordingto a fourth embodiment. In FIG. 17, similarly to the third embodimentdescribed above, an electronic watermark extracting device 1701 isconstituted by a personal computer and comprises an electronic watermarkdetecting section (EWDS) 1702, forwarding request section (FRS) 1703,image synthesizing section (ISS) 1704, display 1705, documentrecognition section (DRS) 1706 and a document format database memory(DFDM) 1707. The electronic watermark extracting device 1701 isconnected to a disk cache (DC) 1106 which stores image data.

An image server 1801 is constituted by a personal computer, to which atransmission section (TS) 1802 driven by a transmission program isappended. The transmission section 1802 has the function of obtainingcorresponding original image data from the optical disk device (ODD)1104, in accordance with requests from the forwarding request section1703, and transmitting this image data to the forwarding request section1703. A document format database is not provided in the image server1801.

In this fourth embodiment, similarly to the third embodiment describedabove, an electronic watermark is embedded in the image data 1711 on thebasis of respective text regions 1712 based on the document formatdatabase, as illustrated in FIG. 12. Therefore, the electronic watermarkextracting device 1701 is able to detect alterations in units of therespective text regions 1712.

Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be described, but itis assumed that image data embedded with an electronic watermark hasalready been stored in the disk cache 1106 connected to the optical diskdevice 1104 and electronic watermark extracting device 1701, and here,the operation of display images on the display 1705 is described.

Firstly, the electronic watermark extracting device 1701 reads in adigital image 1711 stored in the disk cache 1106, identifies the type ofdocument by means of the document recognition section 1706, and sendsdocument information 1720 to the document format database memory 1707,where document format information 1721 is appended by the documentformat database memory 1707. The electronic watermark detecting section1702 checks each text region 1712 on the basis of the document formatinformation 1721, for the presence of an alteration to the digital imagedata 1711.

If no alteration is detected here, then the digital image data 1711 isdisplayed on the display 1705, along with information indicating that noalteration has been detected.

Furthermore, if an alteration is detected, then alteration detectioninformation 1713 is conveyed to the forwarding request section 1703.Similarly to the third embodiment, this alteration detection information1713 consists of image identification information (file name) 1714 andalteration detection text region information 1715, as illustrated inFIG. 14. Moreover, at the same time as this operation, the display ofimage data on the display screen 1705 is halted.

The forwarding request section 1703 obtains text region co-ordinatescorresponding to the alteration detection text region information 1715in the alteration detection information 1713, from the document formatdatabase memory 1707, and transmits the obtained co-ordinatesinformation as retrieval information 1803 to the transmission section1802 in the image server 1801. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the retrievalinformation 1803 is constituted by information (file name) 1804identifying the image where an alteration has been detected and arequest text region number 1805 containing co-ordinates information.

Upon receiving the retrieval information 1803, the transmission section1802 of the image server 1801 searches the optical disk device 1104 forcorresponding image data, on the basis of the co-ordinates for theregion indicated by the request text region number 1805 in the retrievalinformation 1803. The obtained image is transmitted, as a partial image1722, via the LAN 1107, WAN 1109, LAN 1108, to the forwarding requestsection 1703.

Similarly to the third embodiment, the forwarding request section 1703transfers the received partial image data 1722 to the image synthesizingsection 1704. The image synthesizing section 1704 synthesizes thereceived partial image data 1722 with the previously read out image datafor the other portions, and displays this image data on the displayscreen 1705, along with information indicating that an alteration hasbeen detected but original image data has been obtained.

According to the fourth embodiment described above, similarly to thefirst embodiment, in cases where image data stored in the disk cache1106 has been altered, unaltered original image data is displayedautomatically, rather than displaying the altered image data, therebyproviding improved ease of operation to the user. Moreover, whenunaltered original image data is forwarded from the image server 1801,only the image data for the text regions where alterations have beendetected is transmitted, thereby shortening transmission time andfurther improving operating characteristics. Moreover, according to thefourth embodiment, when forwarding of image data is requested, theco-ordinates of the text region are transmitted, and hence it is notnecessary to provide a document format database in the image server1801, thereby simplifying the composition in comparison with the thirdembodiment.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention is described. FIG. 19is a system composition diagram showing an image display systemaccording to this fifth embodiment. In FIG. 19, an electronic watermarkextracting device (EWED) 1901 is constituted by a personal computer,provided with a electronic watermark detecting section (EDDS) 1902driven by an electronic watermark detecting program, a forwardingrequest section (FRS) 1903 driven by a forwarding request program, and adocument composing section (DCS) 1904, and it is connected to a display1905 and a disk cache (DC) 1106 in which image data is stored.

The electronic watermark detecting section 1902, forwarding requestsection 1903 and display 1905 are similar to those in the secondembodiment described above. The document composing section 1904 composesa plurality of items of image data into a single item of image data.

The image server 1920 is constituted by a personal computer, to which atransmission section (TS) 1906 driven by a transmission program isappended. The transmission section 1906 has the function of obtainingcorresponding original image data from the optical disk device (ODD)1104, in accordance with a request from the forwarding request section1903, and transmitting this image data to the forwarding request section1903.

In the fifth embodiment, image data stored in a disk cache 1106connected to the optical disk device 1104 and the electronic watermarkextracting device 1901 is divided into a target region image 1907 and aremainder image 1908, as illustrated in FIG. 20, this image beingmanaged in association with structuring information 1909 as illustratedin FIG. 21.

Describing the storage of image data in this case, digital image dataread in by means of a scanner is identified with regard to document typeby a document identification section (not illustrated), the image datais divided by means of a document structuring section (not illustrated),in accordance with a previously determined document format database, andstructuring information as illustrated in FIG. 21 is created. Theelectronic watermark is embedded into the respective regional images1907 illustrated in FIG. 20. The electronic watermark extracting device1901 is able to detect alterations in units of the respective regionalimages 1907.

Next, the operation of the fifth embodiment of the present invention isdescribed, it being assumed that image data embedded with an electronicwatermark has already been stored in the disk cache 1106 connected tothe optical disk device 1104 and electronic watermark extracting device1901. Here, the operation of displaying images on the display screen1905 is described.

Firstly, the electronic watermark detecting section 1902 of theelectronic watermark extracting device 1901 reads in image data storedin the disk cache 1106, and checks for the presence of alterations ineach of the items of image data, in accordance with the structuringinformation 1909 shown in FIG. 21. If no alteration is detected here,then the image data is displayed on the display screen 1905, along withinformation indicating that no alteration has been detected.

If an alteration has been detected, then alteration detectioninformation 1910 is conveyed from the electronic watermark detectingsection 1902 to the forwarding request section 1903. As illustrated inFIG. 22, this alteration detection information 1910 consists ofinformation (file name) 1911 identifying the image where an alterationhas been detected and alteration detection image information 1912indicating where the alteration was detected. At the same time as thisoperation, display of image data on the display screen 1905 is halted.

Upon receiving the aforementioned notification from the electronicwatermark detecting section 1902, the forwarding request section 1903requests transfer of corresponding image data from the transmissionsection 1906 in the image server 1920, via the LAN 1108, WAN 1109 andLAN 1107, in addition to which it transmits alteration detection imageinformation as retrieval information 1913. As shown in FIG. 23, theretrieval information 1913 consists of information (file name) 1914identifying the image where an alteration has been detected and arequest image region number 1915, and hence it has the same contents asthe alteration detection information 1910.

Upon receiving the retrieval information 1913, the transmission section1906 of the image server 1905 obtains image data corresponding to thefile name 1914 and the request image region number 1915 in the retrievalinformation 1913, from the optical disk device 1104, and transmits theobtained image as a partial image 1916 to the forwarding request section1903, by means of the LAN 1107, WAN 1109 and LAN 1108.

The forwarding request section 1903 transfers the received partial imagedata 1916 to the document composing section 1904. This documentcomposing section 1904 combines the received partial image data 1916with the previously read out image data for the remaining regions, anddisplays, on the display 1905, this combined data as image data 1917,along with information 1918 indicating that an alteration has beendetected but original image data has been obtained.

According to the fifth embodiment described above, similarly to thefirst embodiment, if the image data stored in the disk cache 1106 hasbeen altered, then rather than displaying the altered image, theunaltered original image data is displayed automatically, therebyproviding improved ease of operation to the user. Moreover, in the caseof structured documents, when forwarding unaltered original image datafrom the image server 1920, only the image data in the text region wherean alteration has been detected is transmitted, and hence transmissiontime is shortened, and ease of operation is further enhanced.

In the descriptions relating to the second to fifth embodiments above,it was supposed that there was only one region where an alteration wasdetected, but even in cases where alterations are detected in more thanone region, it is still possible for unaltered image data to bedisplayed automatically, by means of the processing described above.

In the first to fifth embodiments in the foregoing description,electronic watermark technology was described as an example of a methodfor detecting alterations to the image data, but it is also possible touse electronic authorship technology for detecting alterations.Moreover, in the foregoing embodiments, the image display system wasdescribed as a dedicated system, but the present invention may also beapplied to a generic web-based image display system.

The image display system according to the present invention described indetail above provides: a function for requesting transfer of originalimage data from original image holding device when an alteration toimage data has been detected, a function for transmitting original imagedata to the requesting source in accordance with the transfer requestfor original image data, and a function for displaying the receivedoriginal image data, and therefore, even if there has been an alterationto image data that is to be displayed, unaltered image data isautomatically read out and displayed, without requiring the operator toperform separate read-out operations, thereby providing improved ease ofuse to the operator.

Embodiments of Image Display System

With reference to the drawings, embodiments wherein an image displaysystem is applied to a document management system will be describedhereinbelow. In the following descriptions, embodiments of a documentmanagement system and an image registration terminal device and readingdevice forming constituent elements thereof will be described.

General Description of Document Management System

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a compositional example of a documentmanagement system according to the present invention. The hardwarecomposition of the document management system 200 according to thisinvention comprises an image registration terminal device 202, a server204, and a reading terminal device 206, which are mutually linked bymeans of a network 208.

Moreover, the image registration terminal device (hereinafter, simplycalled the registration terminal device or registration terminal) 202,the reading terminal device (hereinafter, simply called the readingterminal) 206, and the server 204 are constituted by computers, andconsequently the actual hardware composition is equivalent to that ofthe conventional document management system illustrated in FIG. 24, butthe functions provided by the CPU (central processing unit) contained inthe registration terminal device and reading terminal device aredifferent from those in the conventional system. Similarly to the priorart, the server 204 should be composed in such a manner that itregisters various types of information, such as data transmitted fromthe registration terminal device, externally input data, and the like,and allows this registered information to be read out in accordance withrequests from the reading terminal device.

Moreover, information for controlling the registration terminal device,reading terminal device and server is previously stored in respectivememories thereof, or alternatively, it is input as required from anexternal source, or generated internally.

The document management system 200 according to the present inventioncreates image data by reading in documents (original documents) which itis intended to be disclosed, by means of an image reader 210constituting an input section, provided at the registration terminaldevice 202. This image data is displayed on the screen, and prospective(or candidate) non-disclosed regions are set in the displayed regions ofthe image data. Each of index data identifying (or specifying) the imagedata and the prospective non-disclosed regions, respectively, is createdrespectively inside the device according to an external command. Thecreated index data and the corresponding image data are registered inthe server 204.

In response to an application made by a party applying for disclosure ofinformation, the reading terminal device 206 reads out image data andindex data corresponding to the application, from the server 204. Theread out image data is then displayed on a screen on the basis of theindex data, in association with a display of the prospectivenon-disclosed regions, or specification of the prospective non-disclosedregions. If the prospective non-disclosed regions are displayed, thenafter confirmation, they are set as non-disclosed regions. In this way,the image data corresponding to the original document can be processedin such a manner that the contents of the regional portions of the imagedata which have been set as non-disclosed regions cannot be seen,whereupon the document is supplied as a disclosure document (provisiondocument) via an output section, such as a printer 212, or the like.

Below, embodiments of a document management system relating to the imagedisplay system according to the present invention will be described, butsince the substantial constituent elements thereof are the registrationterminal device and the reading terminal device, the description willconcentrate principally on these respective devices. Moreover, in thedescriptions of the respective embodiments, repeated descriptions ofcommon functions are omitted, except where further description isnecessary, and furthermore, reference is made to the same commondiagrams in the description (including diagrams used in the descriptionof related art.)

Sixth Embodiment

In the first document management system, a method is adopted where allof the information regions in the image data region are displayedindependently as prospective non-disclosed regions, and the actualnon-disclosed regions, which are not to be disclosed, are determinedfrom all of the prospective non-disclosed regions displayed.

This first document management system (hereinafter, may also be calledsimply ‘the first system’) 200 comprises a first image registrationterminal 220 (corresponding to 202 in FIG. 30) and a first readingterminal device 240 (corresponding to 206 in FIG. 30).

Composition of First Registration Terminal Device

FIG. 31 is a functional block diagram giving an illustration of a firstregistration terminal device 220. This first registration terminal 220comprises a first input section 222, CPU 224, first memory 226 and firstoutput section 228.

The first input section 222 comprises an image reader for convertingoriginal image data for a document (original document) which it isintended to disclose into image data, and it also comprises variousinput device, such as a keyboard, mouse, signal input terminal, and thelike, for inputting external control signals, such as prescribedcommands, or the like. In the case of the present example, it issupposed that the original document is the paper-based informationillustrated in FIG. 2. Similarly to the prior art, the obtained imagedata is transmitted to the CPU 224, together with two-dimensionalco-ordinate values, and is stored in a first memory 226. Moreover, theparty registering the data inputs the name of the provider of theoriginal document, the item names in the document, and the date, assearchable keywords, by means of the first input section 222. In thisexample, it is assumed that there is no objection to disclosure of thesekeyword data.

The first output section 228 is provided with a first screen displaysection 240 for displaying prescribed data, such as image data, and thelike, and it is also equipped with a signal output terminal foroutputting data to be registered in the server 204, a printer, and ifnecessary, sound output device. In this example, the server 204 is takento be a document management server.

The first memory 226 previously stores data for controlling the variousconstituent parts of the first registration terminal 220, such ascontrol signals, dictionaries, and the like. If necessary, theaforementioned image data or other data input from an external source,or alternatively, internally generated data, or the like, can be storedin the first memory 226 in a freely readable state.

The CPU 224 performs various processing with regard to its designatedfunctions, whilst also controlling the processing performed by the otherconstituent elements. This CPU 224 comprises, as functional device, acontrol section 230 and prospective non-disclosed region setting device232. The control section 230 establishes synchronism with the respectiveconstituent elements and performs the aforementioned control of the CPU,by means of prescribed data stored in the first memory 226, and thelike.

The prospective non-disclosed region setting device 232 sets prospectivenon-disclosed regions within the image data region of the image dataobtained from the first input section 222, and creates setting data forthe set regions accordingly.

The prospective non-disclosed region setting device 232 comprises aregion analysing section 234, a first region deciding section 236, andan index data setting section 238.

The region analysing section 234 detects region information relating tothe position and size of the prospective non-disclosed regions which areto be designated as set regions, on the basis of information relating tothe co-ordinate values of the registered image data, the density of theimage data, and the like, and a method for pattern matching withinformation relating to characters, symbols, numerals, and the like,previously registered in the first memory. This region informationconstitutes a portion of the setting data. In this region analysisoperation, text information groups which have a single combined meaningare detected as candidate units. The detection results are set anddisplayed for each candidate unit. FIG. 32 is a diagram showing anexample where the results of region analysis, in other words, image datawhich has completed region analysis, are displayed on the first screendisplay section. In this example, a dotted frame line is displayedsurrounding all of the potential candidate regions, namely theprospective non-disclosed regions 244, 246, 248, 250, 252 and 254.

The first region deciding section 236 finally sets the non-disclosedregions within the image data region displayed on the first screendisplay section 240. This setting procedure is carried out by amendingthe prospective non-disclosed regions. For example, whilst looking atthe analyzed image data 242 displayed, the registering party inputssetting commands via the first input section 222, and if there is aregion which may be disclosed amongst all of the prospectivenon-disclosed regions 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, that are displayed,then he or she cancels the non-disclosure setting for that region. Bythis cancellation process, the final non-disclosure decided regions aredetermined. FIG. 33 shows an example where the results of such regionalamendment, in other words, the amended image data 260, is displayed on afirst image display section 240. Furthermore, in this example, the finalset regions are the region 262 containing the addressee “OX ElectricCo.” and the region 264 containing the issuing party “Kappou RyoriSATO”.

The designation of the set regions in this case may be displayed on thescreen of the first screen display section 240 by means other than thedotted frame lines described above, for example, by solid frame lines,or the like, and moreover, the set regions may be displayed in colour,or a background display may be applied to the set regions. This settingdisplay data is previously stored in the first memory 226.

The first index data creating section 238 creates respective index datarelating to the image data and the set regions, as part of the settingdata. In the present example, the description format used for the indexdata is XML document mark-up language. This setting data of image dataalso contains the aforementioned indexing keywords. Moreover, thesetting data for the set regions also contains the aforementioned regioninformation and two-dimensional co-ordinate values relating to theposition (region width) and size (region height).

Besides this, the index data relating to the image data also contains atag name and attribute name for the image data. This index data servesto identify that the data is original document image data, and iscreated in the form <Image ref=“#Image/Image jpg”>.

On the other hand, the index data relating to the set regions alsocomprises region numbers. For example, region numbers are created forthe partial image data in set regions 262 and 264. These region numbersform a tag name and attribute name, and they are created respectivelyaccording to the number of set regions. In the current example, thereare two set regions 262 and 264, and therefore <Region no=“1”> iscreated for one region and <Region no=“2”> is created for the otherregion.

This index data is stored together with the image data, in a readablefashion, in the first memory. Furthermore, FIG. 34 shows an example ofthe composition of the index data. In this diagram reference numeral 270indicates the whole structure of the index data, reference numeral 272indicates the index data relating to set regions 262 and 264, andreference numeral 274 indicates the index data relating to the imagedata. The index data 274 relating to the regions denotes, in addition tothe region numbers, their corresponding co-ordinate values, width andheight.

Composition of First Reading Terminal Device

Next, a first reading terminal device corresponding to the firstregistration terminal device will be described. FIG. 35 is a functionalblock diagram giving an illustration of a first reading terminal device280. This first reading terminal 280 comprises a second input section282, CPU 284, second memory 286 and second output section 288.

The second input section 282 is linked, for example, to the documentstorage (or management) server 204 by means of a network (208 in FIG.7), and it is also provided with a keyboard, mouse, and other suitableexternal input device. This second input section 282 reads out imagedata registered in the server 204 and setting data respectivelyidentifying set regions which have been designated as prospectivenon-disclosed regions within this image data region. This image data andsetting data is stored in the second memory 286, by means of the CPU284.

Data for controlling the respective constituent elements of the firstreading terminal 280, such as control information, dictionaries, and thelike, is previously registered in the second memory 286. Moreover, ifnecessary, further data input from an external source, or alternatively,internally generated data, or the like, can be stored in the secondmemory 286 in a freely readable state.

The second output section 288 is provided with a second screen displaysection 290 for displaying prescribed data required in the processes forcreating a provision document, such as image data of the discloseddocument that is to be provided, and the like. It is also provided witha printer. Moreover, if necessary, the second output section 288 mayalso comprise a signal output terminal for outputting data relating to aprovision document, or sound output device, image display device, orother suitable device.

The CPU 284 executes respective processing according to its designatedfunctions, and also controls the processing performed by the otherconstituent elements. The CPU 284 comprises, as functional device, aregion deciding (setting) section 292, disclosure data creating section294, and control section 296. The control section 296 establishessynchronism with the respective constituent elements and performs theaforementioned control of the CPU 284, by means of prescribed datastored in the second memory 286, and the like.

The region deciding (setting) section 292 recognizes set regions withinthe image data region, and designates disclosed regions andnon-disclosed regions.

For this purpose, the second memory 286 previously stores readingauthorization setting data containing first selection information fordisplaying the set regions which are prospective non-disclosed decidedregions, and second selection information which is used to convertprospective non-disclosed regions into non-disclosed decided regions.This reading authorization setting data is read out from the secondmemory 286 and a reading authorization setting image (or information) 13a (FIG. 36) is displayed on the second screen display section 290. Thisdisplay operation is performed after reading out image data and settingdata from the server 204. FIG. 36 shows one example of a readingauthorization setting image. On this reading authorization settingscreen 13 a, there is a reading authorization selecting box 13 b, inwhich a selection item 13 c, “Display all (A)”, forming first selectioninformation, and a selection item 13 d, “Limit display (L)”, formingsecond selection information, are displayed. Moreover, 13 e is a “Set”box for selecting items and there is also a ‘Cancel’ box for cancellingthe reading authorization setting screen 13 a.

Firstly, if the “Display all” item 13 c is set and the “Set” box 13 e isselected, by confirmation commands implemented by the disclosing partyby means of the second input section 282, then in response, image dataidentified by the setting data, in other words, the index data 274, isread out from the second memory 286 and displayed on the second screendisplay section 290. Thereupon, the regions within the displayed imagedata which are identified by a <Region> tag in the setting data, inother words, the index data 272 illustrated in FIG. 34, are designatedand displayed accordingly on the second screen display section 290. Thedisplayed image example shown is a displayed image similar to the FIG.33. In other words, the regions 262 and 264 within the displayed imagedata region are displayed within a frame, for example. The framedregions 262 and 264 are regions which are set as prospectivenon-disclosed regions. The disclosing party confirms that the contentsof the framed regions are contents that are not to be disclosed. Whenthe disclosing party has approved that non-disclosure is appropriate,the prospective non-disclosed regions are designated as non-disclosuredecided regions, and furthermore, all of the remaining image data regionis designated as a disclosed region.

Besides surrounding the set regions with a frame, it is also possible todisplay these settings by means of a colour display, background display,or the like. Data relating to this setting display is also storedpreviously in the second memory 286, in a readable state, in such amanner that the display can be selected.

The disclosure data creating section 294 converts the image data in thenon-disclosure decided regions determined by the above process intonon-readable data. At the same time, it also converts image data for thedisclosed region to readable data, and hence disclosure data consistingof non-readable data and readable data is created. This non-readabledata and readable data is stored in the second memory 286.

For this purpose, the reading authorization setting image 13 a is calledup again and the second screen display section 290 is displayed,according to readable/non-readable commands input by the disclosingparty via the second input section 282. Thereupon, the item 13 d,namely, the second selection information “Limit display (L)” is selectedby means of a selection command via the second input section 282.According to this selection operation, the regions 262 and 264identified by the <Region> tag in the index data 272 are converted tonon-readable data. In this example, they are converted to blacked-outimages, for instance. The disclosed region other than these regions isconverted to readable data. The image display corresponding to theconverted data is a similar display to that illustrated in FIG. 29, andthis data is stored in the second memory 286. Instead of using ablacked-out display, it is also possible to convert the images to awhite (blank) display, or alternatively, to delete the regions 262 and264 from the screen.

The respective commands, such as the aforementioned confirmationcommands, selection commands, and the like, and the setting instructionsor image call-up instructions, and the like, are performed according tothe wishes of the disclosing party, by means of commands input via thesecond input section 282.

Disclosure data created in this way is called up from the second memoryby means of an output command from the second input section 282, andtransmitted to the second output section 288, where it is converted to adisclosed document where characters, numerals, and the like, can beread, by means of a printer, or the like, or where the contents thereofare displayed on a TV screen, or the like. In the example describedhere, a printed document corresponding to FIG. 29 is obtained.

If there is an error in the designation of the set regions asprospective non-disclosed regions within the image data region called upfrom the server, then the designation of a set region can be cancelled,thereby converting it to a disclosed region. To do this, a settingcancellation command is input from the second input section 282, and thecorresponding region number in the <Region> tag name in the index datais specified to cancel the setting.

Description of the Operation of the First Document Management System

Disclosure information similar to that illustrated in FIG. 25 isprepared as a document 120 that it is intended to disclose. Theregistering party operates the first registration terminal 220 (FIG. 31)and the image reader to perform a two-dimensional scan, therebyobtaining image data for the document. In this case, of the informationcontents in all of the items printed on the document, the registeringparty inputs the item names, date and the name of the party providingthe document, as index keywords, via the first input section 222.Moreover, the two-dimensional co-ordinate values of the respectiveinformation items in the document 120 are also read in by the imagereader. The image data, index keywords and two-dimensional co-ordinatevalues are stored in the first memory 226. Moreover, the image data isinput to the region analysing section 234 of the prospectivenon-disclosed region setting device 232, and furthermore, the image datais displayed as an image on the first screen display section 240.

Thereupon, when the registering party inputs a region analysis commandfrom the first input section 222, in response, the region analysingsection 234 detects the region information for all the items, in otherwords, the region information relating to position and size for regionswhich have been set as prospective non-disclosed regions, as index data.When this index data is detected, in response, the setting display, suchas frame lines, or the like, is read out from the first memory 226 andis synthesized with the image data. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 32,the regions 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254 are displayed on the firstscreen display section 226, surrounded by frame lines within the imagedata region. At this stage, all of the regions surrounded by the framelines are prospective non-disclosed regions.

From all of the prospective non-disclosed regions in the image dataregion, amendments are made in order to select regions which are notultimately to be disclosed. This information is determined by means ofthe first region deciding section 236. Here, region informationcorresponding to regions which may be disclosed is deleted by means ofdesignation commands made via the first input section 222, therebyremoving the non-disclosure designation from the regions which may bedisclosed without obstacle. Moreover, if necessary, it is also possibleto amend the position and size of the set regions.

As a result of these amendments, the image on the first screen displaysection 240 changes, and image data containing the set regions 262 and264 is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 33.

In response to the designation of the set regions 262 and 264, the indexcreating section 238 creates index data having region numberscorresponding to the set regions, and these region numbers and indexdata for the previously detected position and size are combined andstored in the first memory 226 as setting data relating to the regions.The index data can be found by using the two-dimensional co-ordinatespreviously stored in the first memory. Moreover, index data relating tothe image data is also created and stored together with the index datarelating to the regions. This index data is illustrated in FIG. 34. Inthis example, the co-ordinate values for the first region are “x=‘10’”and “y=‘30’”, the region width is “width=‘150’” and the height is“hight=‘15’”. The co-ordinate values for the second region are “x=‘100’”and “y=‘100’”, the region width is “width=‘80’” and the region height is“hight=‘15’”.

The data pair consisting of the image data and setting data isregistered in the server 204 in accordance with a registration outputcommand input by the registering party by means of the first inputsection 222.

In the first reading terminal device 280, the party disclosing theinformation operates the first reading terminal 280 in accordance withan application from an applicant seeking disclosure of the information.A command for accessing the server 204 is input from the second inputsection 282. Thereupon, a read-out command is output from the secondinput section to the server 204, the image data that the applicantwishes to disclose, and the associated setting data, are read out, andthis data is stored in the second memory 286 by means of the CPU 284.

In response to reading of the image data and setting data, the regiondeciding (or setting) section 292 operates and reads out readingauthorization setting data from the second memory 286, displaying sameon the second screen display section 290. In this example, the readingauthorization setting data contains a first selection information setvalue: “Display all (A)” 13 c, and a second selection information setvalue: “Limit display (L)” 13 d. FIG. 36 shows the reading authorizationsetting image 13 a displayed on the screen.

Observing this reading authorization setting image 13 a, the disclosingparty selects “Display all (A)” 13 c, by inputting a confirmationcommand to the region deciding (or setting) section 292 by means of thesecond input section 282. In response to this selection, the image dataand setting data are synthesized, in accordance with the relationshipbetween the index data 272 and 274, and the image data is displayed onthe second screen display section 290. The image data display here isimage data wherein the set regions 262 and 264 are identified to beprospective non-disclosed regions. In the current example, thedesignation of these set regions is displayed by surrounding the regionsby means of frame lines.

The disclosing party confirms whether the set regions 262 and 264displayed in this manner should be disclosed regions or non-disclosedregions.

Upon confirming that the information contents of the set regions 262 and264 are contents that are not to be disclosed to the applicant, thedisclosing party inputs a readable/non-readable command to thedisclosure data creating section 294, by means of the second inputsection 282. In response to this command, the disclosure data creatingsection 294 again displays the reading authorization setting image 13 aon the second screen display section 290.

observing this display, the disclosing party selects the set value:“Limit display (L)” 13 d which is the second selection information. Inresponse to this selection, the disclosure data creating section 294reads out data that is to be made unreadable from the second memory 286and synthesizes this data with the index data of the set regions,thereby converting the set regions 262 and 264 to blacked-out regions,for example. The image data wherein the set regions have been madeunreadable by blacking out assumes a similar state to the image dataillustrated in FIG. 29. The regions which remain as disclosed regionsare in a readable state. The readable and non-readable data constitutesdisclosure data, and this disclosure data is stored in the second memory286.

When a command indicating output of disclosure data is input to thedisclosure data creating section 294 by the disclosing party via thesecond input section 282, in response, the disclosure data creatingsection 294 reads out the disclosure data from the second memory 286 andtransmits this data to the second output section 290, where it isprinted by a printer, thereby creating a printed disclosure document.This printed document is printed in such a manner that the non-disclosedregions are blacked out, in accordance with the displayed imageillustrated in FIG. 29.

In this way, according to the first document management system, it ispossible to avoid the operation of setting disclosed regions andnon-disclosed regions within the image data region at the readingterminal, and hence the efficiency of the information disclosingoperation can be improved in comparison to the prior art.

Furthermore, according to the first document management system, at thereading terminal side, it is possible simply to confirm regions thathave been provided as candidates for non-disclosure, without having todesignate non-disclosed regions from the start, and therefore errors indesignating non-disclosed regions during operation are eliminated, andhence disclosure documents having a higher reliability than the priorart can be provided.

Seventh Embodiment

In the second document management system relating to the present imagedisplay system, a method is adopted whereby the image data isstructured, the structured image data being divided up when registeredin the server, and in the reading operation, the divided image dataelements are displayed individually, thereby facilitating thedesignation of actual non-disclosed regions which are not to bedisclosed.

The second document management system (which, hereinafter, may simply becalled “second system”,) 200 comprises, as constituent elements, inaddition to a server 204 and network 208, a second image registrationterminal 320 (FIG. 37) (corresponding to 202 in FIG. 30), and a secondreading terminal device 280 (FIG. 35) (corresponding to 206 in FIG. 30).Of the constituent elements of this second document management system,similar labels are applied to constituent elements which are similar toelements of the first document management system, and repeateddescription thereof is omitted here, except where such description isnecessary.

Composition of Second Registration Terminal Device

FIG. 37 is a functional block diagram providing a description of thesecond registration terminal device 320.

This second registration terminal 320 comprises a first input section222, CPU 324, a first memory 226 and a first output section 228(provided with a first screen display section 240). The CPU 324comprises prospective non-disclosed region setting device 232 whichcomprises a region analysing section 234, a first region deciding (orsetting) section 236, and an index data creating section 238, and acontrol section 230. In addition, the CPU 324 comprises a structuredimage data creating section 330 and a reference data creating section332. A point of difference with respect to the first registrationterminal is that additional functional device (structured image datacreating section 330 and reference data creating section 332) areprovided as functional device using the CPU 324. Therefore, except wherenecessary, no further description is given with regard to parts havingthe same function as the first input section 222, first memory 226,first output section 228, first screen display section 240, prospectivenon-disclosed region setting device 232 (region analysing section 234,first region deciding (or setting) section 236 and index data creatingsection 238), and the control section 230.

The structured image data creating section 330 converts amended imagedata (see FIG. 33) created by the prospective non-disclosed regionsetting device 232 into structured image data, and stores thisstructured data in the first memory 226. The setting data created by theindex data creating section 238, and reference data describedhereinafter, are both used also in this conversion operation.

The reference data creating section 332 may be constituted such that itis incorporated in the index data creating section 238, but in thisexample, it is constituted as a separate element. In either case, thefunction of the reference data creating section 332 is not changed. Thereference data creating section 332 creates reference data whichindividually identifies the image data sections for set regions 262 and264 designated as prospective non-disclosed regions within the amendedimage data (see FIG. 33). Therefore, the reference data is data whichreferences the set regions within the structured image data. Asillustrated by FIG. 34, index data relating to the image data and to setregion 262 is previously created, as indicated respectively by numerals274 and 272 in the diagram, and therefore the reference data creatingsection 332 creates index data referencing the image data sections ofthe respective set regions, in other words, it creates referenceattributes (ref attributes), in a format which is appended to the indexdata relating to the set regions 262 and 264. This reference data iscreated on the basis of a structuring command input by the registeringparty to the reference data creating section 232, by means of the firstinput section 222. This reference data creating operation can beperformed readily by referring to the correlations between thepreviously created index data 274 for the image data and the index data272 relating to the regions. The reference data is stored in the firstmemory 226, along with the structured image data.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a compositional example of index datafor structuring which is created in the foregoing manner. In FIG. 38,numeral 334 denotes the whole structure of the structured index data.Furthermore, the ref attribute index data is indicated by referencenumeral 336. Here,/ the ref attribute relating to the first region 262is ‘ref=“Image/region 1 jpg”’ and the ref attribute relating to thesecond region 264 is ‘ref=“Image/region 2 jpg”’.

Upon input of the amended image data illustrated in FIG. 33 and thestructured index data illustrated in FIG. 38, the aforementionedstructured image data creating section 330 performs synthesis of thesetwo data elements, thereby structuring the amended image data. In thisstructuring synthesis process, the regional portions of image datacorresponding to set regions 262 and 264 are extracted to separate filesfrom the amended image data, by means of the data in the ref attributeindex data 336, and furthermore, the regions created by extracting theseset regions are converted to non-readable data, for example, blacked-outdata. Moreover, instead of converting these regions to blacked-out data,it is also possible to convert them to blank data or to delete thecorresponding data.

FIG. 39 shows a display example of image data which has been structuredin this manner. In FIG. 39, reference numeral 340 denotes image datawhere, of the structured image data, the portions corresponding to theset regions 262 and 264 in FIG. 33 have been blacked out.

Moreover, of the structured image data, the image data corresponding tothe first set region 262 is indicated by reference numeral 342 and theimage data corresponding to the second set region 264 is indicated byreference numeral 344, these image data elements 342, 344 being storedin a separate file from the image data 340.

Furthermore, FIG. 40 respectively illustrates a directory structure andfile structure corresponding to the structured image data. In FIG. 40,the file corresponding to FIG. 33 is depicted in the current directory,and at the first layer of the structured image data, the index data(Index3.xml) denoted by reference numeral 334, and the image datadirection (Image directory) corresponding to same are displayed, as inFIG. 15, whilst the second layer contains the respective image datastored in the Image directory, in other words, all of the image data“Image.jpg”, the image data “Image1.jpg” corresponding to the firstregion 262, and the image data “Image2.jpg” corresponding to the secondregion 264.

In response to registration commands input to the server by theregistering party by means of the first input section 222, the secondregistration terminal device reads out from the first memory 226 thestructured image data, setting data identifying the set regions in thestructured image data, and the reference data referencing the image dataportions corresponding to these set regions, and outputs their data bythe first output section 240, via the network 208, to the server 204,where these respective data elements are stored. Accordingly, sincestructuring of the image data has been achieved, the disclosedinformation and non-disclosed information are stored separately in theserver.

Composition of the Second Reading Terminal Device

The composition of this second reading terminal device is similar tothat of the first reading terminal device illustrated in FIG. 35, andtherefore further explanation of common composition, functions andactions described with reference to FIG. 35 is omitted here, except incases where such explanation is necessary. The second reading terminaldevice 280 comprises a second input section 282, a CPU 284, a secondmemory 286, and a second output section 288. Furthermore, a regiondeciding (or setting) section 292, disclosure data creating section 294and control section 296 are provided as respective functional devicerelating to the CPU 284. Furthermore, a second screen display section290 is provided in the second output section 288. In particular, thedata supplied respectively to the functional device of the regiondeciding (or setting) section 292 and disclosure data creating section294 differ from the case of the first reading terminal device, and hencethe processing carried out in these respective sections also differsfrom the case of the first reading terminal device.

The second input section 282 reads out prescribed data previouslyregistered in the server 204, via the network 208. In this case, it issupposed that this data is the index data, in other words, structuredimage data 274 corresponding to the image display regions 340, 342 and344 shown in FIG. 39, and setting data 272 and reference data 336identifying the prospective non-disclosed regions, as described withreference to FIG. 38. These data elements are stored in the secondmemory 286 and are also supplied to the region deciding (or setting)section 292.

The second memory 286 previously stores first selection informationindicating the display of set regions, in a readable fashion. This firstselection information is contained in the reading authorization settingdata, as described with reference to FIG. 36.

The disclosing party operates the second input section 282 to supply aconfirmation command to the control section 296, and according to thecontrol performed by the control section 296, the first selectioninformation is read out from the second memory 286 and the readingauthorization setting image 13 a is displayed on the second screendisplay section 290.

Viewing this first selection information 13 a displayed on the screen,display screen 13 a, the disclosing party inputs selection commands bymeans of the second input section 282, to select the set value: “Displayall” 13 c. In response to the selection command, the region decidingsection 292 creates image data by synthesizing the respective dataelements.

Now if the set value: “Display all” 13 c is selected, then the regiondeciding (or setting) section 292 reads out the structured image data,setting data and reference data from the second memory 286, andsynthesizes the image data for the region identified by the <Region> tagin the index data 272 within the index data 334, with the image dataidentified by the <Image> tag in the index data 274. Thereupon, inresponse to this synthesis operation, settings display data is read outfrom the second memory 286, and a settings display is performed toindicate the set regions within the synthesized image data regions. Theimage data to which a settings display is applied in this manner isshown on the second screen display section 290, and this display issimilar to that shown in FIG. 33. In other words, the image data displayregions “OX Electric Co.” and “Kappou Ryori SATO” are displayedsurrounded by a frame, for instance. The image data having set regionsfor which a settings display is implemented in this manner is stored inthe second memory 286.

In the case of this second reading terminal device, similarly to thefirst reading terminal device, the disclosing party confirms thecontents of the indicated set regions of image data, and judges whetheror not these contents should be disclosed to the applicant. If thedisclosing party judges that non-disclosure is appropriate, then the setregions become non-disclosure decided regions.

The disclosing party again issues a command to the control section 296by means of the second input section 282, whereby the readingauthorization setting data is read out from the second memory 286 andtransmitted to the region deciding (or setting) section 292, whilst thereading authorization setting image 13 a is also displayed on the secondscreen display section 290 (see FIG. 36). Moreover, if the disclosingparty inputs a command via the second input section 282 which selectsthe second selection information, namely, set value: “Limit display” 13d, then the region deciding (or setting) section 292 reads out indexdata 334 from the second memory 286 in response to this selection.Thereupon, in the image data synthesis operation, the image dataportions for the regions identified by the <Region> tag in the indexdata 334 are not included in data synthesis. Instead, the non-readableinformation is read out from the second memory 286 and the correspondingregions are converted to a non-readable display, by blacking out, forexample. Consequently, a display corresponding to the displayillustrated in FIG. 29 or the display illustrated by 340 in FIG. 39 isobtained on the screen of the second screen display section 290. In thepresent example, the non-disclosure decided regions are displayed asblacked-out regions, but they may also be displayed as blank regions.

Similarly to the case of the first reading terminal device, thedisclosing party confirms the resulting display, and then inputsreadable/non-readable commands to the disclosure data creating section294, by means of the second input section 282. In response to thisinput, the disclosure data creating section 294 converts the data in thenon-disclosure decided regions to non-readable data, and it converts thedata in the disclosed regions to readable data. The disclosure dataobtained in this manner is stored in the second memory 286.

Thereupon, similarly to the case of the first reading terminal device,the disclosing party inputs an output command, via the second inputsection 282, and the disclosure data is read out from the second memory286 and transmitted to the second output section 288, where it isconverted to a disclosed document by means of a printer, or the like.

In the case of this second reading terminal device, similarly to thecase of the first reading terminal device, if the disclosing partyjudges that the set regions are incorrect, then he or she can remove thedesignation of a set region, thereby changing the disclosed regions, byselecting and deleting a region number within the <Region> tag name inthe index data.

Description of the Operation of the Second Document Management System

At the second registration terminal device 320, a document that is to bedisclosed is provided to the registering party and is converted to imagedata by the image reader in the first input section 222, this image databeing stored in the first memory 226 and also being sent to theprospective non-disclosed region creating (or setting) device 232. Thesubsequent processing is carried out in a similar manner to the firstregistration terminal device, thereby creating setting data, in otherwords, index data 274 associated with the image data, and index data 272associated with the set regions. Moreover, amended image data asillustrated in FIG. 33 is created and displayed on the first screendisplay section 240.

Furthermore, in the second document management system, the disclosingparty further supplies a structuring command, by means of the firstinput section 222, to the reference data creating section 332 andstructured image data creating section 330. In response to this command,index data corresponding to FIG. 33, and index data 274 and 272 aretransmitted to the reference data creating section 332, wherestructuring index data (denoted by 334 in FIG. 38) is created.Thereupon, index data, in other words, ‘ref attributes’, for referencingthe portions of image data relating to the set regions 262 and 264designated as non-disclosed regions of the image data corresponding toFIG. 33 are created. This index data: ‘ref attribute’ identifiesstructured image data in a layered file structure as illustrated in FIG.39. More specifically, when data is registered in the first memory 226or registered in the server 204, of the whole image data region creatingthe display image in FIG. 33, the image data area from which image dataportions identified as displaying set regions 262 and 264 have beenextracted is stored separately from the individual extracted image dataportions, in accordance with the ‘ref attributes’. This ‘ref attribute’is appended to the end of the index data 272 and hence forms a part ofthe index data relating to the regions.

The structured image data creating section 330 receives the amendedimage data and structured index data and performs structuring of theamended image data, thereby creating image data whereby the regionscorresponding to the set regions 262 and 264 shown in FIG. 33 areblacked out, for example, whilst at the same time image datacorresponding to extracted set regions 262 and 264 are createdrespectively and individually. FIG. 39 shows a display example of thestructured image data, wherein reference numeral 340 denotes an imagedata display having blacked-out sections, and reference numerals 342 and344 denote display examples of the portions removed from theseblacked-out sections, respectively.

The structured image data and structured index data are stored in thefirst memory 226.

When sent from the first input section 222 to the control section 230 bythe disclosing party, under the control of the control section 230, thestructured image data and structured index data are read out from thefirst memory 226 and transmitted from the first output section 228, viathe network 208, to the server 204.

The server 204 stores the structured image data and the structured indexdata. The index data is divided up when stored in the server.

In the second reading terminal device 280, the reading authorizationsetting data is previously stored in the second memory 286 as the firstand second selection information. In this case, the first selectioninformation is data indicating “Display all (A)” for the structuredimage data. The second selection information is data indicating “Limitdisplay (L)” of the data sections corresponding to the set regions, inthe structured image data. Besides these data elements, control data,such as “Set” and “Cancel” are also included.

When an applicant makes an application for disclosure of the document,the disclosing party operates the second reading terminal 280 to accessthe server 204 from the second input section 282, and readingauthorization setting data and the structured image data and structuredindex data corresponding to the application are read out from theserver.

This reading authorization setting data is sent to the second screendisplay section 290, where the data is displayed on the screen. Thedisplay on the screen is the displayed image 13 a corresponding to FIG.36.

Therefore, the disclosing party, observing this displayed image 13 a,selects the set value “Display all (A)” 13 c by means of the secondinput section 282, and then inputs a confirmation command indicating“Set” 13 e, in response to which the second screen display section 290changes the displayed image. The newly displayed image is an imagecorresponding to the displayed image of amended image data illustratedin FIG. 33, in other words, an image 260 wherein the set regions aremarked with frame lines.

If the disclosing party, observing this displayed image 260, judges thatthe contents thereof are not suitable for disclosure, then he or sheoutputs a command from the second input section 282 calling up thereading authorization setting data again, thereby causing the readingauthorization setting image 13 a (image corresponding to FIG. 36) to bedisplayed again on the second screen display section 290.

Viewing this display, if the disclosing party inputs a command via thesecond input section 282 to select “Limit display (L)” Set 13 d, andthen specifies “Set” 13 e, then the structured image data, structuredindex data and the data to be blacked out are read out from the secondmemory 286 and synthesized, and a display corresponding to that in FIG.29, wherein the set regions are blacked out, is shown on the secondscreen display section 290.

The subsequent operations are carried out in a similar manner to thecase of the first document management system. In other words, if thedisclosing party inputs a readable/non-readable command via the secondinput section 282, then in response, the disclosure data creatingsection 294 converts the disclosed regions to readable data and convertsthe non-disclosed regions (here, blacked-out regions) to non-readabledata, and outputs this data as disclosure data. This disclosure data issent to the second output section 288, where the characters, symbols andnumerals, and the like, are converted to a recognizable state to form adisclosure document.

According to this second document management system, the followingmerits are achieved in addition to the merits of the first documentmanagement system described above.

Specifically, when structured image data, setting data and referencedata are read out from the server and synthesized at the second readingterminal device, it is possible to display the non-disclosed regions asidentified image data on the display screen, and therefore the settingof non-disclosed regions is simple and rapid to perform. Consequently,the processing time required from the application until the finaldisclosure document is supplied can be shortened (in other words,processing is speeded up).

Moreover, since structuring of the image data is achieved, thenon-disclosed information is divided when stored in the server, andtherefore, even if illegal external access is made, leaking ofinformation can be avoided as far as possible.

Eighth Embodiment

In the third document management system relating to the image displaysystem, for the respective item names written on an original document, areading authorization level indicating the range of items to whichreading (disclosure) is applicable, and the item names to which readingis applicable are previously registered in the server as readingauthorization level correspondence data and item name correspondencedata relating to the reading authorization level. In the readingoperation, by specifying the reading authorization level, only the imagedata for the items corresponding to this level are displayed in areadable state, in an independent fashion, whilst the actualnon-disclosed regions which are not be disclosed are displayed in anon-readable state, thereby facilitating designation of non-disclosedregions.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating a compositional example of the thirddocument management system. The third document management system 400 hasa similar composition to that illustrated in FIG. 30, with the exceptionthat it comprises a document storage server 204, and a readingauthorization management sever 402. It may also be constituted in such amanner that the reading authorization management server 402 is combinedwith the document storage server 204.

Consequently, this third document management system 400 comprises, inaddition to server 204, 402 and network 208, a third registrationterminal device and a third reading terminal device of the samecomposition as the first image registration terminal and the firstreading terminal device. Of the constituent elements of this thirddocument management system, those elements which are the same aselements of the first document management system are labelled with thesame numerals, and repeated description thereof is omitted here, exceptwhere such description is necessary.

Description of Reading Authorization Management Server

Firstly, a simple description of the reading authorization managementserver 402 will be given. This server 402 previously stores datarequired for implementing prescribed processing in the thirdregistration terminal device 220 and the third reading terminal device280. This data comprises reading authorization level correspondencedata, item name correspondence data whereby a reading authorizationlevel can be specified on a one-to-one basis with the readingauthorization level, and item name list data. Moreover, depending on thecircumstances, it may also comprise reading authorization setting dataused when specifying the reading authorization level. The item name listdata is stored previously in the corresponding server. Furthermore, thedata pair comprising the reading authorization level correspondence dataand the item name correspondence data may also be structured data.

Normally, the information contents written in the disclosure informationcan be divided respectively into information items. Moreover, in thecase of a document which it is intended to disclose, it is possible toidentify the number of items and document type, and knowing thisinformation beforehand, it is possible to prepare, in advance, dataspecifying the number of items and types which may be disclosed, for aplurality of items and document types. These items are grouped into anumber of items which are applicable for disclosure, and are placed inorder from groups having a higher number of items to groups having asmaller number of items. This order is taken as the readingauthorization level.

For example, in the case of the disclosure document illustrated in FIG.25, the number of items is six, namely “Title”, “Date”, “Addressee”,“Amount”, “Proviso”, and “Issuing party”. The list collating these itemsis an item name list, which is stored, readably, as item name list data,in the server 402.

One example of a method for determining reading authorization levelcorrespondence data and item name correspondence data is now described.If it is supposed that all six of the aforementioned items areapplicable for disclosure, for instance, then all of the six item namesare taken as one group, and this group is set as reading authorizationlevel “1”. Moreover, if the item names of four items are taken as onegroup, then that group is set as reading authorization level “2”.Moreover, if the item names of two items are taken as one group, thenthat group is set as reading authorization level “3”. The dataspecifying the reading authorization levels “1”, “2”, “3” in this way isreading authorization level correspondence data. Furthermore, the dataspecifying the respective item names contained in the group of eachreading authorization level is item name correspondence data.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a data pair comprising readingauthorization level correspondence data and item name correspondencedata. In the diagram, the reading authorization level “1”, readingauthorization level “2” and reading authorization level “3” are shownrespectively as “Group Level=‘1’”, “Group Level=‘2’” and “GroupLevel=‘3’”. In this way, the reading authorization level specifies thenumber of items and the item names for which disclosure is applicable.

The data for specifying the reading authorization level is the readingauthorization setting data. The data elements “View=‘Display all’ ”,“View=‘Display part’ ” and “View=‘Minimize display’ ” shown after therespective levels illustrated in FIG. 42 are reading authorizationsetting data elements, which are respectively determined in a one-to-onecorrespondence with the reading authorization levels.

FIG. 43 illustrates a state where the contents of the readingauthorization setting data are displayed on a screen, in other words, areading authorization setting screen. This screen also contains a “Set”data display for setting a selection, and a “Cancel” data display forcancelling settings.

Description of the Composition and Operation of the Third RegistrationTerminal Device

The third image registration terminal device comprising the thirddocument management system (hereinafter, may also be called simply “thethird system”) has the same composition as the first registrationterminal device, and therefore it is described with reference to FIG.31.

The third registration terminal device 220 comprises a first inputsection 222, CPU 224, first memory 226 and first output section 228(which is provided with a first screen display section 240). The CPU 224comprises a prospective non-disclosed region setting device 232 andcontrol section 230, and the prospective non-disclosed region settingdevice 232 comprises a region analysing section 234, first regiondeciding (or setting) section 236 and index data creating section 238.The point of difference with respect to the first registration terminaldevice is that the functions provided by the functional device using theCPU 224 are partially different. Consequently, except where necessary,here, no further description is given with respect to the portionshaving the same functions as the first input section 222, first memory226, first output section 228, first screen display section 240,prospective non-disclosed region setting device 232 (region analysingsection 234, first region deciding (or setting) section 236, index datacreating section 238), and the control section 230.

Similarly to the case of the first registration terminal device, thethird registration terminal device 220 inputs image data for an originaldocument via the first input section 222, according to operationsperformed by the registering party, and this image data is stored in thefirst memory 226, whilst also being displayed on the first screendisplay section 240. In this case, similarly to the case of the firstregistration terminal device, the image data, indexing keywords andtwo-dimensional co-ordinate values are also stored in the first memory226.

Thereupon, the registering party inputs a region analysing command forall the regions corresponding to the respective items in the displayimage of the image data, by means of the first input section 222. Inresponse to this command, the region analysing section 234 of theprospective non-disclosed region setting device 232 detects index datarelating to the regions, indicating their respective positions and size,in a similar manner to the first registration terminal device, andstores this index data in the first memory 226. In response to thisdetection operation, the previously registered setting display data,such as frame lines, or the like, is read out from the first memory 226and synthesized with the image data. The image data display obtained bythis synthesis operation is an image data display which has undergoneregional analysis and where the respective regions are displayedsurrounded by frame lines, as shown in FIG. 32.

Next, similarly to the case of the first registration terminal device,the registering party amends the prospective (or candidate)non-disclosed regions by inputting setting commands from the first inputsection 222 to the first region deciding (or setting) section 236,whilst viewing the displayed image data screen 242 which has undergoneregion analysis. In this case, the set regions of the prospectivenon-disclosed regions 244, 252 and 254 on the screen in FIG. 32 areamended.

FIG. 44 shows an amended set region image data display, which is shownon the first screen display section 240. As illustrated in FIG. 44, theamended set regions corresponding to the prospective non-disclosedregions 244, 252 and 254 are denoted by numerals 410, 412 and 414. Inthe present example, the set regions 246, 248, 250 are not amended andthe set regions in FIG. 32 are left unchanged.

Next, the registering party inputs a command for creating index datacorresponding to all of the item regions, via the first input section222. In response to this command, the server 402 is accessed from thefirst input section 222. The data stored in the server 402 is read outtherefrom. In the present example, this data comprises readingauthorization level correspondence data, item name correspondence dataand reading authorization setting data. This data is stored in the firstmemory 226 and is also supplied to an index data creating section 238.

The index data creating section 238 creates index data (also called itemname index data), for each of the framed regions, 246, 248, 250, 410,412, 414, which relates to the region number and an attribute specifyingthe items in each region (here, this attribute is called the ‘nameattribute’).

In this case, there exist six regions which are set as prospectivenon-disclosed regions, and similarly to the case of the firstregistration terminal device, for each of these regions, region numberindex data is set and index data specifying the image data correspondingto the relevant display screen is also set. Moreover, similarly to thecase of the first registration terminal device, index data indicatingthe position and size of each region is determined by means of thetwo-dimensional co-ordinate values obtained when the original documentis scanned in by the image reader of the first input section 222. Thesevarious index data elements are synthesized together, as illustrated inFIG. 45.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example of the composition of indexdata. This diagram depicts index data 420 relating to the image data,along with index data relating to the regions, which is denoted bynumeral 422.

In the case of this third registration terminal device 220, it is alsonecessary to specify index data 424 relating to the name attributes, foridentifying the item names.

In the example shown in FIG. 45, the <Region> tags in the index data 422contain the first to sixth region numbers, positional information andsize information. Furthermore, the <Region> tags also contain nameattributes, in other words, index data 424 identifying item names, whichhere comprise, in sequence from “Region no=‘1’” to “Region no=‘6’”, thename attributes: “name=‘Addressee’ ”, “name=‘Issuing party’ ”,“name=‘Title’ ”, “name=‘Date’ ”, “name=‘Amount’ ”, and “name=‘Proviso’”.

Next, the method for creating this index data identifying items isdescribed. Specifically, the registering party inputs a command forcreating item name list data, by means of the first input section 222.In response to this command, the index data creating section 238 callsup the data pair comprising reading authorization level correspondencedata and item name correspondence data from the first memory 226. Whendata call-up has been completed, data representing a list of potentiallysettable item names is created from the <List> in “Level=‘1’” of thestructured data, on the basis of the aforementioned command, and thisdata is stored in the first memory 226.

Whilst viewing the display screen shown in FIG. 44, the registeringparty inputs, via the first input section 222, a command for reading outthe item name list data, to the index data creating section 238. Inresponse to this command, the index data creating section 238 reads outthe item name list data from the first memory 226 and causes this datato be displayed on the first screen display section 240. In FIG. 44, thedisplayed item name list is denoted by numeral 430.

As respective items on the item name list are designated successively byinput of a designation command for each item from the first inputsection 222, the associated item name correspondence data for all sixitems is read out successively in response to the designation operation.This data is synthesized with the previously specified index data 422relating the regions by being appended to the end of the index data 422as item index data 424. The index data created in this manner is storedin the first memory 226 as setting data.

Thereupon, when the registering party enters an output command from thefirst input section 222 to the control section 230, in response, theimage data and index data (indexing keywords, index data relating to theimage, index data relating to the regions, index data relating to theitems, and the like) are read out from the first memory 226 and storedvia the first output section 228 in the document storage server 204.This index data is setting data wherein prospective non-disclosedregions are specified as set regions within the image area.

Description of the Composition and Operation of the Third ReadingTerminal Device

The third reading terminal device has a similar composition to the firstreading terminal device described in the foregoing, and therefore isexplained with reference to FIG. 35. However, the third reading terminaldevice 280 comprises a second input section 282, a CPU 284, a secondmemory 286 and a second output section 288 (provided with a secondscreen display section 290). This CPU 284 comprises a region deciding(or setting) section 242, a disclosure data creating section 294 and acontrol section 296. The point of difference with respect to the firstreading terminal device is that the functions provided by the functionaldevice using the CPU 284 are partially different. Consequently, exceptwhere necessary, no further description is given with respect to partshaving the same functions in the second input section 282, second memory286, second output section 288, second screen display section 290 andcontrol section 296.

Similarly to the case of the first reading terminal device, the thirdreading terminal device 280 outputs a command for accessing the servers204 and 402, from the second input section 282, in accordance withoperations performed by a disclosing party. In response to this command,image data (which has undergone region amendment) and index data(setting data) are read out from the document storage server 204, andthe structured data pair (reading authorization level correspondencedata and item name correspondence data), item name list data and readingauthorization setting data are read out from the reading authorizationmanagement server 402.

All of this read out data is stored in a second memory 286 and is alsotransmitted to the region deciding (or setting) section 292.

In the region deciding (or setting) section 292, similarly to the caseof the first reading terminal device, the disclosed regions andnon-disclosed regions are designated. For this purpose, in the case ofthe third reading terminal device 280, the disclosing party issues acommand for reading authorization setting data to be displayed, by meansof the second input section 282. In response to this display command,the reading authorization setting data is transmitted from the regiondeciding (or setting) section 292 to the second screen display section290, where it is displayed as a reading authorization setting image.This reading authorization setting display image 20 a is illustrated inFIG. 43.

Next, whilst observing this reading authorization setting image 20 a,the disclosing party inputs a reading authorization level selectioncommand (corresponding to the first selection information), via thesecond input section 282. In this case, for instance, the box “Displayall (A)” 20 c is selected on the screen, and then “Set” 20 f isselected. In response to this reading authorization selection command,the image data, reading authorization level correspondence data and itemname correspondence data are synthesized and the displayed image on thescreen is switched to display the synthesized image data on the screen.Incidentally, this display image 20 a includes a reading authorizationselection box 20 b. This box 20 b contains the selection items “Displayall” 20 c, “Limit part” 20 d, and “Minimize display” 20 e. Additionally,the items “Set” 20 f, “Cancell” 20 g and “Multiple information” 20 h arealso provided.

In this synthesis process, firstly, in response to “Set” 20 f, the itemnames (<List> tags) identified by the Level attribute “1” in the <Group>tag of the reading authorization level correspondence data and the itemname correspondence data illustrated in FIG. 42 are obtained.Furthermore, the image data which is to be displayed is synthesized, onthe basis of the name attributes in the <Region> tags of the index dataillustrated in FIG. 45, and the image data and <Image> tags for regionswhere these name attributes match the previously obtained item names.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a reading side prospective non-disclosedregion image on the screen for image data obtained as a result of theforegoing synthesis process. In this reading side prospectivenon-disclosed region image 440 on the screen, all of the prospectivenon-disclosed regions, in other words, all six of the item regions,‘Title’, ‘Date’, ‘Addressee’, ‘Amount’, ‘Proviso’ and ‘Issuing party’,are displayed as disclosable regions 450, 452, 454, 456, 458 and 460,without being marked by a designation symbol, such as a frame, or thelike.

The disclosing party views the reading side prospective non-disclosedregion image 440, and judges whether all of the set regions 450, 452,454, 456, 458 and 460, which are not marked with the designation display(namely, a frame or other designation symbol), are suitable fordisclosure to the applicant, or whether it is inappropriate for theseregions to be disclosed.

If the disclosing party judges that all of these items are suitable fordisclosure, then the prospective non-disclosed region image 440 on thescreen is set as a disclosure set region. Similarly to the descriptionrelating to the first reading terminal device, the disclosing partyinputs a readable/non-readable command to the disclosure data creatingsection 294, via the second input section 282, and the image data in thedisclosure set region is converted to disclosure data and is registeredin the second memory 286. Thereupon, as described above with regard tothe first reading terminal device, the disclosing party enters an outputcommand via the second input section 282, whereby the disclosure data istransferred from the second memory 286 to the second output section 288,where it is converted into a disclosure document, by a printer, or thelike.

On the other hand, if the judgement of the disclosing party is differentto the judgement described above, and the disclosing party decides thatthe regions 454 and 460 corresponding to the addressee item “OX ElectricCo.” and the issuing party item “Kappou Ryori SATO” should not bedisclosed to the applicant, then the following processing isimplemented.

Specifically, the disclosing party issues another command for display ofthe reading authorization setting data, via the second input section282, thereby causing the reading authorization setting image 20 a (seeFIG. 43) to be displayed on the second screen display section 290.Thereupon, he or she selects the item 20 d “Limit part” corresponding toreading authorization level “2” and then selects “Set” 20 f. By makingthis selection, the item names (<List> tags) identified by the Levelattribute “2” in the <Group> tags of the reading authorization levelcorrespondence data and item name correspondence data illustrated inFIG. 42 are retrieved. Moreover, the image data which is to be displayedis synthesized, on the basis of the name attributes in the <Region> tagsof the index data illustrated in FIG. 45, and the image data and <Image>tags for regions where these name attributes match the previouslyobtained item names.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a partially limited reading sideprospective non-disclosed region screen 470 for the image data obtainedby the foregoing synthesis operation. On this reading side prospectivenon-disclosed region screen 470, of the six item regions, ‘Title’,‘Date’, ‘Addressee’, ‘Amount’, ‘Proviso’ and ‘Issuing party’, tworegions, namely, the region 454 corresponding to the addressee item andthe region 460 corresponding to the issuing party item, are marked withthe designation display symbol. Therefore, these two regions areprospective non-disclosed regions. The remaining four regions, 450, 452,456 and 458, are displayed as regions specified for disclosure, withoutbeing marked by the designation display symbol, such as a frame, or thelike.

The disclosing party views the partially limited reading sideprospective non-disclosed region image 470 on the screen, and againjudges whether both of the set regions 454 and 460 marked by thedesignation display (frame lines or other display symbol) are suitablefor disclosure to the applicant, or whether they not suitable fordisclosure to the applicant.

If the disclosing party judges that these items are not suitable fordisclosure, then the prospective non-disclosed region image 440 is setas the non-disclosure decided region. As described with regard to thefirst reading terminal device above, the disclosing party inputs acommand for converting data to a non-readable state, from the secondinput section 282 to the disclosure data creating section 294, in theform of second selection information, whereby the disclosure set regions454 and 460 are blacked out, blanked out, deleted, or the like, in orderto convert them to a non-readable state, and furthermore, the image datafor these disclosure set regions 454 and 460 is converted to disclosuredata and registered in the second memory 286.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing a final display screen, i.e., an imagefinally displayed on the screen comprising non-disclosure set regionswhich have been changed to a non-readable state. In the diagram, thefinal display screen is denoted by reference numeral 480, and thenon-disclosure set regions are denoted by 482 and 484.

Thereupon, similarly to the foregoing description of the first readingterminal device, the disclosing party enters a readable/non-readablecommand via the second input section 282, and the disclosure data istransferred from the second memory 286 to the second output section 288,where it is converted to a disclosure document by means of a printer, orthe like.

According to this third document management system, it is possible toachieve similar beneficial effects to those provided by the first andsecond document management systems described above.

Moreover, according to this third document management system, readingauthorization level correspondence data determining the range ofinformation disclosure and related item name correspondence data are setand previously registered in a server. On the reading terminal side, thereading authorization level correspondence data and item namecorrespondence data read out from the server are synthesized selectivelyaccording to each individual applicant seeking disclosure ofinformation, and hence the non-disclosed information contents can bespecified precisely. Consequently, it is possible to provide adisclosure document containing an amount of information whichcorresponds to the applicant.

Ninth Embodiment

A fourth document management system relating to the present imagedisplay system relates to an example where the image data and index datain the third document management system are replaced by structured imagedata and structured index data as described in the second documentmanagement system. Consequently, in this fourth document managementsystem the actual non-disclosed regions which are not to be disclosedare easily designated during registration, in the same way as in thesecond and third document management systems.

Moreover, this fourth document management system has a similarcomposition to that of the third document management system describedwith reference to FIG. 41, but the fourth registration terminal deviceand the fourth reading terminal device constituting this system areequivalent to the registration terminal device illustrated in FIG. 37and the registration terminal device illustrated in FIG. 35.

Consequently, similarly to the third document management systemillustrated in FIG. 41, this fourth document management systemcomprises, in addition to the servers 204, 402 and network 208, a fourthregistration terminal device and a fourth reading terminal device havingthe same composition, respectively, as the second image registrationterminal device and the second reading terminal device. Of theconstituent elements of the fourth document management system, thoseelements which are the same as elements of the second and third documentmanagement system are similarly labelled, and repeated descriptionthereof is omitted here, except where such description is necessary.

In the following description, this fourth document management system isindicated by numeral 400, similarly to the document management systemillustrated in FIG. 41. Moreover, the fourth registration terminaldevice indicated by 220 in FIG. 41 is denoted by reference numeral 320similarly to the registration terminal device in FIG. 37, and the fourthreading terminal device indicated by reference numeral 280 in FIG. 41 isdenoted by reference numeral 280 similarly to the reading terminaldevice in FIG. 35.

Description of Reading Authorization Management Server

Firstly, the data previously registered in the reading authorizationmanagement server 402 is data required for implementing prescribedprocessing in the fourth registration terminal device 320 and the fourthreading terminal device 280. This data comprises reading authorizationlevel correspondence data, item name correspondence data whereby areading authorization level can be specified, on a one-to-one basis withthe aforementioned reading authorization levels, and item name listdata. Furthermore, depending on the circumstances, it may also comprisereading authorization setting data to be used when specifying readingauthorization levels. These respective data elements have the samecontents as the data described previously in relation to the thirdembodiment, and hence further description thereof is omitted here.

Description of the Composition and Operation of the Fourth RegistrationTerminal Device

The fourth document management system, (which may simply be called the“fourth system” hereinafter,) comprises a fourth image registrationterminal and a fourth reading terminal device, as constituent elements.

FIG. 37 is a functional block diagram giving an illustration of thefourth registration terminal device 320.

This fourth registration terminal device 320 has a similar compositionto the second registration terminal device described previously inrelation to the second embodiment, and therefore description of therespective constituent parts thereof is omitted here, except where suchdescription is required.

Firstly, similarly to the second registration terminal device, thefourth registration terminal device 320 is provided with a first inputsection 222, a CPU 324, a first memory 226, and a first output section228 (comprises a first screen display section 240). Furthermore, the CPU324 comprises prospective non-disclosed region setting device 232, astructured image data creating section 330, reference data creatingsection 332, and a control section 230. The prospective non-disclosedregion setting device 232 comprises a region analysing section 234, afirst region deciding (or setting) section 236, and an index datacreating section 238.

The point of difference with respect to the second registration terminaldevice is that the functions provided by the functional device using theCPU 324 differ partially in this fourth registration terminal device320. Therefore, except where necessary, no further description is givenwith respect to the portions having the same functions as the firstinput section 222, first memory 226, first output section 228, firstscreen display section 240, prospective non-disclosed region settingdevice 232 (region analysing section 234, first region deciding (orsetting) section 236, index data creating section 238), structured imagedata creating device 330, reference data creating section 332 and thecontrol section 230.

Similarly to the second registration terminal device, this fourthregistration terminal device 320 inputs image data for an originaldocument from the first input section 222, in accordance with operationsperformed by the registering party, and stores this image data in afirst memory 226, whilst also displaying the image data on the firstscreen display section 240. In this case also, similarly to the case ofthe second registration terminal device, the image data, indexingkeywords, and two-dimensional co-ordinate value are stored in the firstmemory 226.

Thereupon, the registering party enters, via the first input section222, a region analysis command with respect to all of the regionscorresponding to respective items within the displayed image of theimage data. In response to this command, the region analysing section234 of the prospective non-disclosed region setting device 232 detectsindex data relating to the regions, which indicates the position andsize of the respective regions, and stores this data in the first memory226, similarly to the case of the second registration terminal device.In response to this detection operation, previously registered settingdisplay data, such as frame lines, or the like, is read out from thefirst memory 226, and this data is synthesized with the image data. Thedisplay of the image data obtained by this synthesis operation shows ascreen of image data which has undergone region analysis, wherein therespective regions are displayed surrounded by frame lines, as shown inFIG. 32.

Next, again similarly to the case of the second registration terminaldevice, the registering party views the displayed screen (or displayedimage) 242 of region-analysed image data and enters a setting command tothe first region deciding (or setting) section 236, by means of thefirst input section 222, thereby amending the prospective non-disclosedregions. In this case, the set regions of the prospective non-disclosedregions 244, 252 and 254 in the screen in FIG. 32 are amended. Thescreen of image data after amendment of the set regions is the same asthe screen (or displayed image) described previously with reference toFIG. 44.

Next, similarly to the case of the third registration terminal device,the registering party enters a command, via the first input section 222,for creating index data for all the item regions. In response to this,the first input section 222 accesses the server 402 to read out data.The data read out from the server 402, in other words, the readingauthorization level correspondence data, item name correspondence data,and reading authorization setting data is stored in the first memory226, and is also supplied to the index data creating section 238.

Similarly to the case of the third registration terminal device, theindex data creating section 238 creates reference numbers and index data(also called item name index data) relating to an attribute identifyingthe items in each region (here, this attribute is called a ‘nameattribute’), for each of the framed regions 246, 248, 250, 410, 412,414.

In this case, since there exist six regions which are set as prospectivenon-disclosed regions, reference number index data is specified for eachof these, similarly to the case of the first registration terminaldevice, and index data identifying the image data corresponding to therelevant displayed screen is also specified. Furthermore, also similarlyto the case of the first registration terminal device, index datarelating to the position and size of the respective regions isdetermined using two-dimensional co-ordinate values obtained whenscanning the original document by means of the image reader in the firstinput section 222.

The respective index data elements 420 and 422 are synthesized asdescribed previously with reference to the compositional example ofindex data shown in FIG. 45.

In the case of the fourth registration terminal device 320, index data424 identifying an item and relating to the name attributes is alsospecified, similarly to the case of the third registration terminaldevice, and this index data 424 is synthesized with the previouslyspecified index data 422 relating to the regions. Consequently, asillustrated in FIG. 45, the item index data 424 is appended to the endof this index data 422. The index data created in this manner is storedin the first memory 226 and setting data.

In the fourth document management system, similarly to the case of thesecond document management system, the registering party furthersupplies a structuring command from the first input section 222 to thereference data creating section 332 and the structured image datacreating section 330. In response to this command, the image datacorresponding to FIG. 44 (but excluding the item name list 430), and theindex data 420 and 422 shown in FIG. 45 are transferred to the referencedata creating section 332, where new index data for structuring iscreated (denoted by 490 in FIG. 49). Thereupon, index data, in otherwords, a “ref attribute”, referencing the image data sections for setregions 246, 248, 250, 410, 412 and 414, which are specified asprospective non-disclosed regions of the image data corresponding toFIG. 44, is created. As stated previously with regard to FIG. 39, thisindex data “ref attribute” allocates the structured image data to alayered file structure like that shown in FIG. 50. More specifically, bymeans of the ‘ref attributes’, when data is registered in the firstmemory 226 or registered in the server 204, of the whole image dataregion creating the display image in FIG. 44, the image data area fromwhich image data portions identified as displaying set regions 246, 248,250, 410, 412 and 414 have been extracted is stored separately from theindividual extracted image data portions. The ‘ref attribute’ index datais appended between the index data elements 422 and 424 shown in FIG. 45and it forms a part of the index data relating to the regions. In FIG.49, this index data: ‘ref attribute’ forming reference data is denotedby 492.

The structured image data creating section 330 receives the amendedimage data and the structured index data (comprising various index data,namely, indexing keywords, reference numbers, setting data for positionand size of regions, and reference data). Thereby, it performsstructuring of the amended image data, and creates image data whereregions corresponding to the set regions illustrated in FIG. 44, namely,246 (Issuing party: “Kappou Ryori SATO”), 248 (Title: “receipt”), 250(Date: “Jun. 30, 2000”), 410 (Addressee: “OX Electric Co.”), 412(Amount: “65000 Yen”) and 414 (Proviso: “For food supplies”) are blackedout, whilst also respectively creating separate image data elementscorresponding to the extracted set regions 246, 248, 250, 410, 412 and414. FIG. 50 shows a display example of the structured image data, where494 denotes the image data display having blacked-out sections, whilstthe display examples of the extracted sections are denoted respectivelyby 502 (Title “Receipt”), 504 (Date: “Jun. 30, 2000”), 506 (Addressee:“OX Electric Co.”), 508 (Amount: “65000 Yen”), 514 (Proviso: “For foodsupplies”), and 516 (Issuing party: “Kappou Ryori SATO”).

The structured image data and the structured index data are stored inthe first memory 226.

When a command is sent to the control section 230 from the first inputsection 222 by the registering party, under the control of the controlsection, the structured image data, the structured index data, and theitem index data are read out from the first memory 226 and transmittedfrom the first output section 228, via the network 208, to the documentstorage server 204.

The document storage server 204 stores this structured image data andstructured index data (indexing keywords, index data relating to theimage (including reference data) and index data relating to the regions(setting data, item-related index data, and the like)). The structuredindex data forms setting data for designating prospective non-disclosedregions as set regions within the image region. The image data isdivided up when stored in the document storage server.

The aforementioned index data creating section 238 may also beincorporated in the reference data creating section 332 as a portionthereof.

Moreover, the reading authorization level correspondence data andrelated item name correspondence data are registered previously in thereading authorization management server 402.

Description of the Composition and Operation of the Fourth ReadingTerminal Device

The fourth reading terminal device has a similar composition to thefirst to third reading terminal devices described above, and hence it isdescribed with reference to FIG. 35. However, this fourth readingterminal device 280 comprises a second input section 282, a CPU 284, asecond memory 286, and a second output section 288 (provided with asecond screen display section 290). The CPU 284 comprises a regiondeciding (or setting) section 292, disclosure data creating section 294and control section 296. The point of difference between the fourthreading terminal device and the third reading terminal device lies inthe fact that the data read out from the document storage server 204 isstructured image data and structured index data. Therefore, theprocessing of this structured image data and structured index data isthe same as that performed in the second reading terminal device, andmoreover, the processing relating to the item index data, readingauthorization level correspondence data, item name correspondence data,item name list data and reading authorization setting data is the samethat that performed in the case of the third reading terminal device.Accordingly, except where necessary, no further description is givenhere with respect to parts having similar functions to the second inputsection 282, second memory 286, second output section 288, second screendisplay section 290 and control section 296.

As in the case of the third reading terminal device, with the fourthreading terminal device 280, the disclosing party issues a command foraccessing the servers 204 and 402 by operating the second input section282. In response to this command, structured image data (region-amendedimage data) and structured index data (setting data) are read out fromthe document storage server 204 and the structured data pair (readingauthorization level correspondence data and item name correspondencedata), item name list data and reading authorization setting data areread out from the reading authorization management server 402.

All the data elements thus read out are stored in the second memory 286and transmitted to the region deciding (or setting) section 292.

In the region deciding (or setting) section 292, similarly to the caseof the third reading terminal device, the disclosed regions andnon-disclosed regions are designated. For this purpose, in the case ofthe fourth reading terminal device 280, the disclosing party issues acommand for reading authorization setting data to be displayed, by meansof the second input section 282. In response to this display command,the reading authorization setting data is transmitted from the regiondeciding (or setting) section 292 to the second screen display section290, where it is displayed as a reading authorization setting screen.This reading authorization setting display screen (or displayed image)20 a is illustrated in FIG. 43.

Next, whilst observing this reading authorization setting displayedimage 20 a, the disclosing party inputs a reading authorization levelselection command (corresponding to the first selection information),via the second input section 282. In this case, for instance, the box“Display all (A)” 20 c is selected on the screen, and then “Set” 20 f isselected. In response to this reading authorization selection command,the structured image data, reading authorization level correspondencedata and item name correspondence data are synthesized and the displayedscreen is switched to display the synthesized image data screen.

In this synthesis process, firstly, in response to “Set” 20 f, the itemnames (<List> tags) identified by the Level attribute “1” in the <Group>tag of the reading authorization level correspondence data and the itemname correspondence data illustrated in FIG. 42 are obtained.Furthermore, the image data which is to be displayed is synthesized, onthe basis of the name attributes in the <Region> tags of the structuredindex data illustrated in FIG. 49, and the image data and <Image> tagsfor regions where these name attributes match the previously obtaineditem names.

The image data obtained as a result of the foregoing synthesis processforms a reading side prospective non-disclosed region image 440 on thescreen, similarly to the case of the third reading terminal device. Inthis displayed screen 440 of the reading side prospective non-disclosedregion image, all of the prospective non-disclosed regions, in otherwords, all six of the item regions, ‘Title’, ‘Date’, ‘Addressee’,‘Amount’, ‘Proviso’ and ‘Issing party’, are displayed as disclosableregions 450, 452, 454, 456, 458 and 460, without being marked by adesignation symbol, such as a frame, or the like.

Similarly to the case of the third reading terminal device, thedisclosing party views the reading side prospective non-disclosed regionscreen 440 and judges whether all of the set regions 450, 452, 454, 456,458 and 460, which are not marked with the designation display (namely,a frame or other designation symbol), are suitable for disclosure to theapplicant, or whether it is inappropriate for these regions to bedisclosed.

If the disclosing party judges that all of these items are suitable fordisclosure, then the prospective non-disclosed region displayed screen440 is set as a disclosure set region. Similarly to the descriptionrelating to the second reading terminal device, the disclosing partyinputs a readable/non-readable command to the disclosure data creatingsection 294, via the second input section 282, and the image data in thedisclosure set region is converted to disclosure data and is registeredin the second memory 286. Thereupon, as described above with regard tothe second reading terminal device, the disclosing party enters anoutput command via the second input section 282, whereby the disclosuredata is transferred from the second memory 286 to the second outputsection 288, where it is converted into a disclosure document, by meansof a printer, or the like.

On the other hand, if the judgement of the disclosing party is differentto the judgement described above, and the disclosing party decides thatthe regions 454 and 460 corresponding to the addressee item “OX ElectricCo.” and the issuing party item “Kappou Ryori SATO” should not bedisclosed to the applicant, then the following processing isimplemented.

Specifically, in a similar manner to the third reading terminal device,the disclosing party issues another command for displaying the readingauthorization setting data, via the second input section 282, therebycausing the reading authorization setting screen (displayed image) 20 a(see FIG. 43) to be displayed on the second screen display section 290.Thereupon, he or she selects the item 20 d “Display part” correspondingto reading authorization level “2” and then selects “Set” 20 f. Bymaking this selection, the item names (<List> tags) identified by theLevel attribute “2” in the <Group> tags of the reading authorizationlevel correspondence data and item name correspondence data illustratedin FIG. 42 are retrieved. Moreover, the image data which is to bedisplayed is synthesized, on the basis of the name attributes in the<Region> tags of the structured index data illustrated in FIG. 49, andthe image data and <Image> tags for regions where these name attributesmatch the previously obtained item names.

Similarly to the case of the third reading terminal device, the imagedata obtained by the foregoing synthesis operation forms the partiallylimited reading side prospective non-disclosed region displayed image470 on the screen as illustrated in FIG. 47. On this reading sideprospective non-disclosed region displayed screen 470, of the six itemregions, title, date, addressee, amount, proviso and issuing party, tworegions, namely, the region 454 corresponding to the addressee item andthe region 460 corresponding to the issuing party item, are marked withthe designation display symbol. Therefore, these two regions areprospective non-disclosed regions. The remaining four regions, 450, 452,456 and 458, are displayed as regions specified for disclosure, withoutbeing marked by the designation display symbol, such as a frame, or thelike.

The disclosing party views the partially limited reading sideprospective non-disclosed region displayed screen 470, and again judgeswhether both of the set regions 454 and 460 marked by the designationdisplay (frame lines or other display symbol) are suitable fordisclosure to the applicant, or whether they not suitable for disclosureto the applicant.

If the disclosing party judges that these items are not suitable fordisclosure, then the prospective non-disclosed region screen 440 is setas the non-disclosure decided region. As described with regard to thesecond reading terminal device above, the disclosing party inputs acommand for converting data to a non-readable state, to the disclosuredata creating section 294 from the second input section 282, in the formof second selection information, whereby the non-disclosure set regions454 and 460 are read out from the second memory 286 as non-readableinformation, and these disclosure set regions 454 and 460 are convertedto a blacked-out state, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 48, whilstat the same time, the image data for these disclosure set regions 454and 460 is converted to disclosure data and registered in the secondmemory 286. Instead of blacking out the data, it is possible to convertthe data to a non-readable state, by blanking out, deletion, or thelike.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing a final display screen comprisingnon-disclosure set regions which have been changed to a non-readablestate. In the diagram, the final display screen (or the finallydisplayed image) is denoted by numeral 480, and the non-disclosure setregions are denoted by 482 and 484.

Thereupon, similarly to the foregoing description of the first readingterminal device, the disclosing party enters a readable/non-readablecommand via the second input section 282, and the disclosure data istransferred from the second memory 286 to the second output section 288,where it is converted to a disclosure document by means of a printer, orthe like.

According to this fourth document management system, it is possible toachieve similar beneficial effects to those provided by the first andsecond document management systems described above.

Moreover, according to this fourth document management system, readingauthorization level correspondence data determining the range ofinformation disclosure and related item name correspondence data are setand previously registered in a server. On the reading terminal side, thereading authorization level correspondence data and item namecorrespondence data read out from the server are synthesized selectivelyaccording to each individual applicant seeking disclosure ofinformation, and hence the non-disclosed information contents can bespecified precisely. Consequently, it is possible to provide adisclosure document containing an amount of information whichcorresponds to the applicant.

Tenth Embodiment

In a fifth document management system relating to the present imagedisplay system, the respective reading terminal devices in the first tofourth document management systems described above are composed in sucha manner that once a reader level has been determined, the non-disclosedregions can be determined directly in accordance with that level.

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing a compositional example of the fifthdocument management system, which is denoted by the numeral 500. Thissystem 500 comprises a fifth registration terminal device 220 or 320(including an image reader 210 as a peripheral device), a fifth readingterminal device 280 (including a printer 212 as a peripheral device), adocument storage server 204 and a reading authorization managementserver 510, all mutually linked by a network 208. The servers 204 and510 may also be provided as a single server combining both serverfunctions, instead of independent servers.

Except where necessary, no further description is given here with regardto those constituent elements and functions of the fifth registrationterminal device (220 or 320) and the fifth reading terminal device 280constituting this fifth document management system 500 which are thesame as the respective registration and reading terminal device in thefirst to fourth document management Systems 200 or 400. In particular,the characteristics of the fifth document management system 500 relateto the data previously stored in the reading management server 510 andto the functions of the fifth reading terminal device 280, and hence thefollowing description will focus principally on the fifth readingterminal device 280.

Description of the Composition and Operation of the Fifth ReadingTerminal Device

In the fifth document management system 500, in addition to previouslystoring reading authorization setting data, at the least, reader leveldata is also registered for specifying a reader level in relation toparticular data of the setting data.

FIG. 52 is a functional block diagram showing a fifth reading terminaldevice 520 (corresponding to 280 in FIG. 51) of the fifth documentmanagement system 500. The region deciding (or setting) section 292 ofthis fifth reading terminal device 520 comprises a direction settingsection 530. This direction setting section 530 has the function ofdirectly setting the disclosed regions and non-disclosed regions in theimage data region, by means of a reader level in the reader level dataread out from the server 510 being specified via the second inputsection 282.

In this compositional example, this reader level data is structured withrespect to the reader level, reader, and reader attribute name.

FIGS. 53(A), 53(B) and 53(C) are diagrams giving an illustration ofreading authorization settings in the fifth document management system500, respectively showing display screens where aforementioned dataelements are depicted on the second screen display section 290. FIG.53(A) is a reading authorization setting data screen corresponding toFIG. 43. FIG. 53(B) is a data screen for identifying the reader, andpreviously registered names can be selected on this screen. FIG. 53(C)is a data screen for specifying an attribute name, in other words, adepartment to which the reader belongs, and on this screen, it ispossible to select previously registered department titles. This readerspecification data (FIG. 53(B)) and the department title specificationdata (FIG. 53(C)) are obtained from the reader level data.

FIG. 54 is a diagram illustrating reader level data. This reader leveldata is structured data containing names, attributes and reader levels.In this example, the reader levels are specified for respective reader'snames, in the form of name <Person> tag data, for instance: ‘<PersonLevel=“3”> YAMADA TARO’, ‘<Person Level=“3”> SATO HANAKO’, ‘<PersonLevel=“1”> SUZUKI ZIRO’, ‘<Person Level=“1”> MAINITI HAGEMI’, ‘<PersonLevel=“1”> YOGOTO TUTOMU’, and the like.

Moreover, in a similar manner, reader levels are specified forrespective departments, in the form of group <Group> tag data, forinstance: ‘<Sections Level:=“3”> Information Department No. 1’,‘<Sections Level:=“3”> Information Department No. 2’, ‘<Sections Level:“2”> Administration’, ‘<Sections Level:=“1”> Accounts’, ‘<SectionsLevel:=“3”> Secretariat’, and the like. These reader levels have aone-to-one correspondence with the reading authorization levels. Forexample, in FIG. 54, the reader level “3” (<Person Level=“3”>) isassociated with the group level <Group Level=“3”> in the reading levelcorrespondence data and item name correspondence data illustrated inFIG. 42. Similarly, the reader level “2” (<Person Level=“2”>) isassociated with the group level <Group Level:=“3”> in the reading levelcorrespondence data and item name correspondence data illustrated inFIG. 42, and the reader level “1” (<Person Level=“1”>) is associatedwith the group level <Group Level=“1”> in the reading levelcorrespondence data and item name correspondence data illustrated inFIG. 42. The department titles are also associated with the readingauthorization levels, in a similar manner. Therefore the <SectionsLevel:=“3”> relating to “Information Department No. 2” in FIG. 54 isassociated with the reading authorization level <Group Level:=“3”> inFIG. 42.

In this way, it is possible to specify, automatically, by means of thereader level data, which range of items are to be disclosed, in otherwords, which items are not suitable for disclosure, according to thename and/or the department title of the registering party.

In the document management system 500 in FIG. 51, as described withreference to the first to fourth document management systems, structuredimage data, structured index data, and other required data elements arestored in the document storage server 204, and moreover, readingauthorization level correspondence data, item name correspondence data,reader level data, and other required data elements are stored in thereading authorization management server 510.

When the party disclosing the information enters a command accessing theservers 204 and 510 from the second input section 282 of the readingterminal device 520 (see FIG. 52), in accordance with an applicationfrom an applicant, the structured image data and structured index datato be disclosed is read out from the document storage server 204, andmoreover, the reading authorization level correspondence data, item namecorrespondence data and reader level data is read out from the readingauthorization management server 510, and stored in the second memory286.

If the disclosing party then enters a command, via the second inputsection 282, causing the region deciding (or setting) section 292 todisplay the reading authorization level data on the screen, then inresponse, the direction setting section 530 reads out the readingauthorization level data from the second memory 286 and sends this datato the second output section 288, whilst also displaying it on thesecond screen display section 290. This display is a readingauthorization setting display as illustrated in FIG. 53, and is achievedby superimposing the screen in FIG. 53(A), FIG. 53(B) and FIG. 53(C),and any one of these screens can be called up as the topmost screen bymans of a command from the second input section 282. Here, it issupposed that the reading authorization level screen in FIG. 53(A) isdisplayed.

If the disclosing party inputs a command specifying the set value“Display all” as the reading authorization level, from the second inputsection 282 to the direction setting section 530, then in response, thedirection setting section 530 reads out and synthesizes the structuredimage data, structured index data, reader level data and readingauthorization level data corresponding to the set value, from the secondmemory 286. In this synthesizing process, firstly, for example, the itemnames (<List> tags) specified by the Level attribute ‘1’ in the <Group>tag of the reading authorization level correspondence data and item namecorrespondence data illustrated in FIG. 42. Thereupon, the image data ofthe obtained item names which coincide with the name attributes 424 inthe <Region> tag in the index data (shown in FIG. 49) is synthesized,and this image data is displayed on the second screen display section290. In this display screen, all the items are switched to the readingside prospective non-disclosed region screen, as illustrated in FIG. 46.

Here, it is assumed that the disclosing party is able to identify thename or the department of the applicant, and the disclosing party entersa command from the second input section 282 to the direction settingsection 530, thereby switching to the screen in FIG. 53(B) or FIG.53(C), where the applicant name is input as a selection command to thedirection setting section 530, for example, “SUZUKI ZIRO” is selected.By making this selection, the <Person Level=“1”> in FIG. 54 is selected,and if the <Group Level=“1”> in FIG. 42 is selected at the same time,then as already described with respect to the fourth reading terminaldevice, a reading side prospective non-disclosed region screen 440similar to that shown in FIG. 46 is displayed.

If, on the other hand, “Information Department No. 2” is selected, forexample, then by making this selection, the item <Person Level=“3”> isselected, and if the item <Group Level=“3”> in FIG. 42 is selected atthe same time, then a partially limited reading side prospectivenon-disclosed region displayed screen 470 as illustrated in FIG. 47 isdisplayed.

The respective data obtained in this manner are stored in the secondmemory 286. The subsequent processing is performed in a similar mannerto the fourth reading terminal device, and the data is output inreadable form from the second output section 288.

If the applicant cannot be identified, then the disclosing party issuesa command to the direction setting section 530 via the second inputsection 282, to call up the screen in FIG. 53(A). Thereupon, a similaroperation to that already described in relation to the fourth readingterminal device is performed.

In this way, according to the fifth document management system, when thereader can be identified, the selection of information to be disclosedcan be specified automatically, thereby improving the efficiency of theoperation for issuing disclosure information, whilst also making itpossible to enhance the reliability of the disclosure information.

Eleventh Embodiment

The sixth document management system relating to the present imagedisplay system is an example where the applicant him or herself is ableto operate the reading terminal device in the fifth document managementsystem described above, in addition to which the reader level can onlybe specified with respect to readers for whom a registered user name andregistered password have been previously registered.

Therefore, here, the processing implemented in a case where a registereduser name and registered password are used will be described, and sincein other respects, the composition and operation of this system aresimilar to those in the fifth document management system, furtherdescription thereof is omitted here, except where especially necessary.

The sixth document management system has a similar composition to thatof the fifth document management system and this sixth documentmanagement system is denoted by numeral 500 in FIG. 51.

In this case also, a document storage server 204 and a readingauthorization management server 510 are provided. These servers 204 and510 may be provided as a single servers combining the functions of each,rather than as separate servers. The characteristics of the sixthdocument management system 500 relate to the data previously stored inthe reading management server 510 and to the functions of the sixthreading terminal device 280, and hence the following description willfocus principally on the sixth reading terminal device 280 and theprocessing associated with the aforementioned data.

Description of the Composition and Operation of the Sixth ReadingTerminal Device

In the sixth document management system 500, in addition to the datastored in the case of the fifth document storage system, registered usernames and registered passwords are previously stored in the readingauthorization management server 510.

FIG. 55 is a functional block diagram showing a sixth reading terminaldevice 540 (corresponding to 280 in FIG. 51) of the sixth documentmanagement system 500 as illustrated in FIG. 52. The region deciding (orsetting) section 292 of this sixth reading terminal device 540 comprisesa direction setting section 530 and a comparing section 542. Asdescribed with regard to the fifth reading terminal device, thisdirection setting section 530 has the function of directly setting thedisclosed regions and non-disclosed regions in the image data region, bymeans of a reader level in the reader level data read out from theserver 510 being specified via the second input section 282.

Moreover, the comparing section 542 compares the registered user namesand registered passwords read out from the reading authorizationmanagement server with a user name and password input by the reader. Inother words, the reader is authenticated by means of a login name andpassword.

This comparison process is described below. As stated previously, usernames and passwords which may be used in the sixth reading terminaldevice are stored in the reading authorization management server 510,respectively, as registered user names and registered passwords.Moreover, in this sixth reading terminal device, it is supposed that thereader level data stored previously in the reading authorizationmanagement server 510 is data obtained by appending a password attributeto the reader level data illustrated in FIG. 54.

FIG. 56 shows reader level data used in the sixth reader terminaldevice. Within the reader level data shown in FIG. 56, the passwordattribute 560 is appended in the form ‘Password=“123456”’, or the like,after the ‘Person Level=“3”’ in <Person Level=“3”>, for example, in thecase of a level relating to the applicant's name. Other passwordattributes might be ‘Password=“abcdef”’, ‘Password=“0a1b2c”’,‘Password=“tgbnhyujm”’, ‘Password=“aaaaaa”’, or the like. Moreover, inthe case of a department name, the password attribute 560 is appended inthe form “Password=‘111111’”, or the like, after the ‘SectionsLevel=“3,”’ in <Sections Level=“3”>, for example. Other passwordattributes 560 might be ‘Password=“987654”’, ‘Password=“qazwsx”’,‘Password=“a!b”c#d$”’, ‘Password=“zzzzzz”’, or the like.

Moreover, login setting data required in order to perform login isstored in the second memory 286 of the sixth reading terminal device540. FIG. 57 illustrates a screen display of this login setting data, inother words, a login screen.

Here, it is assumed that the applicant is operating the sixth readingterminal device 540 himself or herself. When the applicant enters acommand calling up the login setting data to the comparing section 542of the region deciding section 292, by means of the second input section282, the login setting data is read out from the second memory 286 andsupplied to the second screen display section 290 in the second outputsection 288, where it is displayed as a login screen as illustrated inFIG. 57. The applicant then inputs a user name and password to identifyhim or herself to the comparing section 542 from the second inputsection 282, by writing the user name and password to prescribedlocations on the screen.

In response to the input signal, the reader level data is obtained fromthe second memory 286 by the comparing section 542, which then comparesthe registered user name and registered password in the reader leveldata with the input user name and password.

If the comparison is judged to be positive, then the direction settingsection 530 of the region deciding (or setting) section 292 is activatedby a signal indicating the judgement result, and the display screen inFIG. 46 is displayed. The subsequent operations are performed similarlyto the case of the fifth reading terminal device, and disclosedinformation is thereby issued to the applicant.

If the comparison is not judged to be positive, then the login settingdata is output from the comparing section 542, in accordance with thejudgement signal, and the login screen shown in FIG. 57 is displayedonce again on the second screen display section 290. Consequently, theapplicant for whom the comparison result was judged not to be positiveis not able to issue disclosure information on the sixth readingterminal device 540.

In this way, by means of the sixth document management system, it is notnecessary specifically to employ an operator on the disclosing side ofthe reading terminal device, and an applicant can themselves obtaindisclosure information by operating the reading terminal device, withoutthe mediation of an information disclosing party, thereby improving theefficiency of the information disclosing operation.

Other Modifications

In the respective the sixth to eleventh embodiments described above, theimage data reading method was limited to an image scanner, but the imagedata reading method is not restricted to this. For example, previouslyregistered image data, or image data obtained by other device, forexample, image data obtained by electronic mail of by a removable media,or the like, can be handled similarly by the image display system for adocument management system according to the present invention.Similarly, in the sixth to eleventh embodiments described above, thefinal disclosure document which can be read is formed by an outputsection incorporated in the document management system of the presentinvention, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, theoutput section may be coupled to the image display system of thedocument management system according to the present invention by a wiredsystem, radio system, fibre-optics, or other desired method, or it maycomprise an output section capable of reproducing information by meansof a desired recording medium.

In the sixth to eleventh embodiments described above, the index data,reading authorization level correspondence data, item namecorrespondence data, and reader level data were described using XML, butsimilar results can be obtained even if these respective data elementsare described using a data format other than XML.

Moreover, in the seventh embodiment, item names were set for eachregion, but any other information capable of identifying a region may beused.

In the eighth to eleventh embodiments described above, the documentstorage server and reading authorization management server weredescribed as separate hardware items, but similar results can beobtained if both functions are constituted by a single hardware device.

Moreover, in the eleventh embodiment described above, the verificationof the reader was performed using a login name and password, but similarresults are obtained if using hardware, such as IC cards, fingerprintidentification, iris identification, or the like, and the correspondingcontrol software.

As clearly revealed in the foregoing description, by means of the imagedisplay system relating to a first document management system accordingto the present invention, at the reading terminal side, it is possibleto avoid the operation of setting disclosed regions and non-disclosedregions within the image data region, and hence the efficiency of theinformation disclosure operation can be improved compared to the priorart.

Moreover, according to the image display system relating to a firstdocument management system according to the present invention, it ispossible simply to confirm regions that have been provided as candidatesfor non-disclosure, without having to designate non-disclosed regionsfrom the start, and therefore errors in designating non-disclosedregions during operation are eliminated, and hence disclosure documentshaving a higher reliability than the prior art can be provided.

Moreover, according to the image display system relating to a seconddocument management system according to the present invention, inaddition to the merits of the first document management system asdescribed above, the following additional merits are obtained.

Namely, at the second reading terminal device, when the structured imagedata, setting data and reference data are read out from the server andsynthesized, image data wherein the non-disclosed regions are identifiedcan be displayed on the display screen, and hence the process of settingnon-disclosed regions is simple and quick to perform. Consequently, theprocessing time taken from application until provision of the finaldisclosure document is shortened (in other words, the process is speededup).

Moreover, since structuring of image data is achieved, the non-disclosedinformation is stored separately in the server, and therefore even ifillegal external access is made, it is possible to avoid leaking ofinformation, as far as possible.

According to the image display system relating to a third and fourthdocument management system according to the present invention, it ispossible to obtain similar merits to those associated with the first andsecond image display systems relating to document management systemsdescribed above.

Moreover, according to the image display system relating to the thirddocument management system relating to the present invention, readingauthorization level correspondence data determining the range ofinformation disclosure and related item name correspondence data are setand previously registered in a server. On the reading terminal side, thereading authorization level correspondence data and item namecorrespondence data read out from the server are synthesized selectivelyaccording to each individual applicant seeking disclosure ofinformation, and hence the non-disclosed information contents can bespecified precisely. Consequently, it is possible to provide adisclosure document containing an amount of information whichcorresponds to the applicant.

Moreover, according to the image display system relating to a fourthdocument management system, similarly to the image display systemrelating to the second document management system, the processing timetaken from application until provision of the final disclosure documentis shortened (in other words, the process is speeded up).

Moreover, since structuring of image data is achieved, the non-disclosedinformation is stored separately in the server, and therefore even ifillegal external access is made, it is possible to avoid leaking ofinformation, as far as possible.

According to this image display system relating to a fifth documentmanagement system, if a reader can be identified, then the selection ofdisclosed information is automatically specified, and hence theefficiency of the operation for issuing disclosed information isimproved and the reliability of the disclosed information is enhanced.

According to the image display system relating to a sixth documentmanagement system, a composition is adopted whereby reading is onlypossible when a previously registered user name and password arematched, and hence it is not necessary to employ a party for disclosingthe information, but rather the applicant becomes able to operate anduse the system him or herself.

In addition, the functions of each of the terminal devices as mentionedabove may be performed on a base of software installed in a personalcomputer belonging to each of the terminal devices.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. An image display system for document managementcomprising an image registration terminal device, a server, and areading terminal device mutually linked by a network, wherein: (A) saidimage registration terminal device comprises a first input section forconverting a document into image data; and a first screen displaysection capable of displaying said image data and set-regions specifiedas prospective non-disclosure regions within an image data region ofsaid image data; (B) said server obtains and stores said image data andsetting-data for said set-regions from said image registration terminaldevice; and (C) said reading terminal device comprises a second inputsection for reading out said image data and said setting-data from saidserver; a region deciding section for deciding disclosure decidedregions in said image data region and non-disclosure decided regions insaid image data region with respect to said setting-data; and a secondscreen display section capable of displaying said image data, saidset-regions, and said non-disclosure decided regions within said imagedata region.
 20. An image display system according to claim 19, wherein:(A) said image registration terminal device further comprises: aprospective non-disclosure region setting device for creating saidsetting-data for said set-regions; a first memory for storing said imagedata and setting-data in a readable fashion; and a first output sectionfor reading out said image data and setting-data from said first memoryand outputting same to be stored in said server, said first outputsection comprising said first screen display section; and (B) saidreading terminal device further comprises: a disclosure data creatingsection for converting image data within said non-disclosure decidedregions to non-readable data, converting image data within saiddisclosure decided regions to readable data, and creating disclosuredata consisting of said non-readable and readable data; a second outputsection for converting said disclosure data to a disclosure documenthaving perceivable contents; and a second memory for storing, in areadable fashion, said image data, said setting data, said readable andnon-readable data, and said disclosure data, said output sectioncomprising said second screen display section. 21-32. (canceled)
 33. Animage display system according to claim 19, wherein: said first screendisplay section is capable of displaying structured image data createdfrom said image data and setting data for said set regions; said serverobtains and stores said setting-data for said set-regions, and saidstructured image data; and said second screen display section is capableof displaying disclosure data consisting of said non-readable data andreadable data, obtained by converting the image data in the disclosuredecided regions to readable data.
 34. An image display system accordingto claim 33, wherein: (A) said image registration terminal devicefurther comprises: a prospective non-disclosure region setting devicefor creating said setting-data for said set-regions; a structured imagedata creating section for creating said structured image data; areference data creating section for creating reference data forreferencing said set-regions within said structured image data; a firstmemory for storing said image data, said structured image data, saidsetting-data and said reference data, in a readable fashion; and a firstoutput section for reading out said structured image data, saidsetting-data and said reference data from said first memory andoutputting same to said server for storage, said first output sectioncomprising said first screen display section; and (B) said readingterminal device further comprises: a region deciding section forcreating said image data on the basis of said structured image data,said setting-data and said reference data read out from said server, andthen setting said disclosure decided regions and said non-disclosuredecided regions with respect to the set-regions in said image dataregion of said image data; a disclosure data creating section forcreating said disclosure data by converting image data within saidnon-disclosure decided regions to said non-readable data, in addition tosaid readable data conversion; a second output section for convertingsaid disclosure data to a disclosure document having perceivablecontents, said second output section comprising said second screendisplay section; and a second memory for storing, in a readable fashion,said image data, said setting-data, said readable and non-readable data,and said disclosure data. 35-47. (canceled)
 48. An image display systemfor document management comprising an image registration terminaldevice, server and reading terminal device mutually linked by a network,wherein: (A) said image registration terminal device comprises a firstinput section for converting original image data for a document that isto be disclosed, into image data; and a first screen display sectioncapable of displaying said image data and set-regions specified asprospective non-disclosure regions within an image data region of saidimage data; (B) said server previously registers reading authorizationlevel correspondence data and item name correspondence data relating tosaid reading authorization levels, and said server also obtains andstores said image data and setting-data for said set-regions from saidimage registration terminal device; and (C) said reading terminal devicecomprises a second input section for reading out said image data, saidsetting-data, said reading authorization level correspondence data, andsaid item name correspondence data relating to said readingauthorization levels, from said server; and a second screen displaysection capable of displaying said image data readable item names withinsaid image data region said set-regions within said image data region,and non-disclosure decided regions within said image data region.
 49. Animage display system according to claim 48, wherein: (A) said imageregistration terminal device further comprises: a prospectivenon-disclosure region setting device for creating said setting-data forsaid set-regions; a first memory for storing said image data andsetting-data in a readable fashion; and a first output section forreading out said image data and setting-data from said first memory andoutputting same to be stored in said server; wherein said first outputsection comprises said first screen display section; wherein saidprospective non-disclosure region setting device comprises an index datacreating section for creating index data relating to said image data andto said set-regions, as a portion of said setting-data; wherein theindex data relating to said image data comprises indexing keywords, andimage data tag names and attribute names; and wherein the index datarelating to said set-regions comprises a region number, two-dimensionalco-ordinate values, region width and region height for said set-regions,and name attributes indicating the item names relating to saidset-regions; (B) said server previously registers reading authorizationlevel correspondence data and item name correspondence data relating tosaid reading authorization levels, and said server also stores saidimage data and said setting data from said image registration terminaldevice; and (C) said reading terminal device further comprises: anon-disclosed region deciding section for specifying said disclosuredecided regions and said non-disclosure decided regions by selectingitem names by specifying a read out reading authorization level, andspecifying set-regions corresponding to the selected item names in saidimage data region, on the basis of item name correspondence datacorresponding to said selected item names; a disclosure data creatingsection for converting image data within said non-disclosure decidedregions to non-readable data, converting image data within saiddisclosure decided regions to readable data, and creating disclosuredata consisting of said non-readable and readable data; a second outputsection for converting said disclosure data to a disclosure documenthaving perceivable contents, said second output section comprising saidsecond screen display section; and a second memory for storing, in areadable fashion, said image data, said setting-data, said readable andnon-readable data, said disclosure data, said reading authorizationlevel correspondence data, and said item name correspondence data. 50.An image display system according to claim 19, wherein: said firstscreen display section is capable of displaying structured image datacreated from said image data and said setting-data; said serverpreviously registers reading authorization level correspondence data anditem name correspondence data relating to said reading authorizationlevels, and said server also obtains and stores said structured imagedata in place of said image data and setting-data for said set-regionsfrom said image registration terminal device; said second input sectionreads out said structured image data, said reading authorization levelcorrespondence data and said item name correspondence data, from saidserver; and said second screen display section is capable of displayingreadable item names, and disclosure data consisting of said non-readabledata and readable data, obtained by converting the image data in thedisclosure decided regions to readable data.
 51. An image display systemaccording to claim 50, wherein (A) said image registration terminaldevice further comprises: a prospective non-disclosure region settingdevice for creating said setting-data for said set-regions; a structuredimage data creating section for creating said structured image data; areference data creating section for creating reference data forreferencing said set-regions within said structured image data; a firstmemory for storing said image data, said structured image data, saidsetting-data and said reference data, in a readable fashion; and a firstoutput section for reading out said structured image data, saidsetting-data and said reference data from said first memory andoutputting same to said server for storage; wherein said first outputsection comprises said first screen display section; wherein saidprospective non-disclosure region setting device comprises an index datacreating section for creating index data relating to said image data andto said set-regions, as a portion of said setting-data; wherein saidindex data creating section comprises said reference data creatingsection as a portion thereof; wherein the index data relating to saidimage data comprises indexing keywords, and image data tag names andattribute names; and wherein the index data relating to said set regionscomprises a region number, two-dimensional co-ordinate values, regionwidth and region height for said set-regions, said reference data, andname attributes indicating the item names relating to said set regions;(B) said server previously registers reading authorization levelcorrespondence data and item name correspondence data relating to saidreading authorization levels, and also storing said structured imagedata, said setting-data and said reference data, from said imageregistration terminal device; and (C) said reading terminal devicefurther comprises: a non-disclosed region deciding section forspecifying said disclosure decided regions and said non-disclosuredecided regions by selecting item names by specifying a read out readingauthorization level, and specifying set-regions corresponding to theselected item names in image data region of said image data, from saidstructured image data, said setting data and said reference data, on thebasis of item name correspondence data corresponding to said selecteditem names; a disclosure data creating section for creating saiddisclosure data by converting image data within said non-disclosuredecided regions to said non-readable data, in addition to said readabledata conversion; a second output section for converting said disclosuredata to a disclosure document having perceivable contents, wherein saidsecond output section comprises said second screen display section; anda second memory for storing, in a readable fashion, said image data,said setting-data, said readable and non-readable data, said disclosuredata, said reading authorization level correspondence data and said itemname correspondence data. 52-54. (canceled)
 55. An image display systemaccording to claim 20, wherein: reader level data for specifying readerlevels in relation to particular setting data elements of saidsetting-data is previously registered in said server; and said regiondeciding section comprises a direct deciding section which sets regionsand said non-disclosure decided regions within said image data region,directly, by specifying a reader level in said reader level data readout from said server by the second input section.
 56. An image displaysystem according to claim 55, wherein said reader level data is datawhich is structured with respect to the reader level, reader name and adepartment title of a respective reader.
 57. An image display systemaccording to claim 55, wherein: in cases where a user name for saidreader and a password for said reader are previously stored in saidreader level data, as a registered user name and a registered password,said region deciding section further comprises a comparing section forcomparing said registered user name and said registered password readout from said server by said second input section with a user name andpassword input by said reader by means of said second input section; andif the comparison performed by said comparing section produces a match,then said direct deciding section specifies said reader level for thematching reader name.
 58. (canceled)